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Autobiography 

of ARAB 




By E. Prioleau Henderson 






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THE LIBRARY OF 

CONGRESS. 

One Copy Received 

SEP. 5 1901 

CCPVHtGHT ENT*» 

CLASS^XXc. No 
CO*Y B. 



Copyrighted 1901 
By E. Prioleau Henderson 



The R. L. Bryan Company 
Columbia, S. C. 



Personal Opinions of "Arab" 

Edgefield, S. C, March 15, 1901. 
Mr. B. P. Henderson, Walterboro, S. C. 

Dear Henderson : I was very much gratified to 
learn from your letter, received some time ago, that you 
contemplated publishing in book form your "Autobio- 
graphy of Arab," the fine little war horse that carried 
you so many miles during the campaign in Virginia and 
elsew'here in the late war between the States. I remem- 
ber the ihorse perfectly, and if you tell, in your "Bio- 
graphy" of this remarkable animal, the one-half of 
what he saw and did, with you as his rider and constant 
companion, the world would be incredulous — and yet it 
would be true. As Corporal of the Beaufort District 
Troop of my old regiment, the 2d South Carolina Cav- 
alry, you rode "Arab" on the raid made by General 
Stuart, in October or November, 1862, across the Po- 
tomac River, around McClellan's army, through 
Mercersburg, Chambersburg — near Gettysburg — and 
through Emmittsburg, back to the Potomac, which we 
crossed at White's Ford not long after sun-rise. The 
march of the day and night from Chambersburg, Pa. — 
where we spent the night — to Leesburg, Va., measured 
ninety-six miles. We made this march in less than 
thirty hours. As I now recall the facts, your horse, 

3 



"Arab," and a horse ridden by Col. Jenifer, of Stuart's 
Staff, were the only two in the entire column that made 
this ninety-six miles without change. Jenifer's horse 
had the advantage of yours, by reason of the fact that 
he kept steadily in the turnpike, while you frequently 
were ordered to the right and left flanks in charge of 
detachments gathering up horses. The endurance of 
"Arab" on this occasion was phenomenal. 

The history of this remarkable animal would be a his- 
tory of your troop, as I believe you rode him with the 
troop from the beginning to the end of the war. I can 
conscientiously say that until you were separated from 
my command, both rider and horse met promptly and 
gallantly every requirement of duty, and no doubt 
maintained this character to the end. That old regi- 
ment was composed of a splendid body of horsemen, as 
fine and dashing and fearless as ever went into battle. 
I often recur to them with pride and gratitude. 

If such a regiment could be landed in the Phillippine 
Islands, the insurrectos would have to find* another 
climate. But, alas ! we are now too old, and our faith- 
ful steeds bave turned to dust. 

I trust you will succeed in having your manuscript 
published advantageously to yourself. I know the nar- 
rative will interest all who admire the achievements of 
gallant soldiers fighting for a just cause. 

Please give me the opportunity of subscribing when 
you are ready to issue an edition. 

Very truly your friend and comrade, 

M. C. Butler, Sr. 
4 



Columbia, S. C, May 22, 1901. 
My Dear Henderson : If your good little horse 
Arab does give an "Autobiography," he will surely de- 
serve an equestrian statue — for he saw more of the war 
between the North and the South, I am sure, than any 
other living horse! I remember him well, and when I 
last saw him, he — like his master — was active in the 
memorable political campaign of '76 in our State. I 
am glad that his gallant deeds are to be placed on re- 
cord, for he served his native State long and faithfully. 
I am yours very truly, 

Wade Hampton. 



Autobiography of Arab. 



CHAPTER I. 

I was born (or foaled) on the nth of March, 1857, 
on the plantation of Dr. E. R. Henderson, in the Dis- 
trict of Colleton, S. C. My mother before me was 
owned by the Doctor's second son, Prioleau. Now I 
will say to my readers at the beginning of this book, 
who perhaps may think I write and converse remarka- 
bly well for a horse, that it is not at all remarkable, for 
I was educated by my mother, Pocahontas, who was 
known and noted over the entire District, for her saga- 
city, as well as her speed and endurance. The hardest 
part of my education was learning the human language. 
But my mother was very patient and kind. She in- 
sisted that a colt of hers, with -the blood' from her side of 
the Burrel Sanders stock of horses, and on my father's 
side from the famous Bonaparte stock of South Caro- 
lina and Virginia, could learn anything and everything, 
as she had done. So I persevered, and by the time I 
was two years old, I could understand the human lan- 
guage thoroughly. I well remember it was a daily les- 
son. The pasture where we grazed was a beautiful 
lawn, extending on both sides of the avenue, leading 
from the dwelling house to the public road, which was 
much traveled, for it was 'the main road from Charles- 
ton to Columbia, S. C. My mother kept me feeding 
constantly close beside this road. We could hear dis- 
tinctly every word uttered by travelers passing to and 



fro. I have never forgotten the effect one conversation 
had on me, soon after I began to understand human 
language. On a certain day, we observed two men on 
horseback, approaching from the direction of Black 
Creek. My mother called my attention to them, and 
said, "Notice closely now, and learn to distinguish one 
person from another, as well by their features as their 
voices." She said, "I know both of them well. The 
older man on the large bay horse is Mr. Jesse DuBois, 
the other is Mr. Thomas Boynton." As they got oppo- 
site to us, Mr. DuBois stopped his horse and asked Mr. 
Boynton if that was a colt from Pocahontas. Mr. 
Boynton answered in the affirmative. Mr. DuBois ex- 
amined me very closely and said, "If that colt lives, he 
will surpass Pocahontas as a saddle horse ; he has every 
mark for speed and endurance, and I would like very 
much to own him." As they rode off, my mother said, 
"Arab, you heard what was said about you, and I know 
you understand, for I see how pleased you look ; and 
well you may, for Mr. DuBois is a splendid judge of 
horse-flesh, and owns some very fine ones, which he 
raised on his farm." I have never forgotten the feel- 
ings stirred in my inmost heart at that time by the 
words of praise betsowed on me, and many a day in my 
future war life, when shot and shell were whistling 
around me, and corn and hay were scarce, as usual, in 
our Southern Confederacy, 'has that praise strength- 
ened and elated me, and I would resolve "to do, or die." 



CHAPTER II. 

My first three and a half years passed very peacefully 
and quietly, with a plenty to eat and drink, and no more 
hard lessons, for I flattered myself at that age, that I 
was a wonderful young horse, as well as an educated 
one. At this time I experienced my second love* — it 
was for my master. He had been away at school or 
college most of the time since my birth ; but during his 
vacations he petted me a great deal, and I had learned 
to love him next to my dear old) mother. Just a few 
days before I was four years old, he made his servant 
boy, Ben, break me to the saddle, and soon he com- 
menced riding me (himself. My master was very fond 
of deer hunting, and more so of fox hunting. I soon 
began to enjoy it myself, particularly following the 
hounds through the woodls at full speed, and soon got 
up quite a reputation for myself as a woods horse. 

Now war is upon us. The State Convention, of 
which my master's father was a member, had signed 
"The Ordinance of Secession" on the 20th of Decem- 
ber, declaring South Carolina out of the Union. I had 
already learnt tfhe cavalry drill, for my master had quit 
college and joined his brother's company, "The Marion 
Men of Combahee." The company was raised and offi- 
cered by Dr. W. L. Henderson, Captain ; D. Blake Hey- 
ward, 1 st Lieutenant; Dr. Frederick Blake, 2d 1 Lieuten- 
ant ; T. E. Boynton, 3d Lieutenant. We were all wait- 
ing for hostilities to commence — uniformed, drilled and 
ready, man and horse. Fort Sumter is bombarded and 
taken. 

Soon after companies were leaving South Carolina 
for Virginia. Governor Pickens had actually refused to 
allow Capt. Henderson's company to leave the State — 
said he wanted the company for a coast guard. That 

9 



would not suit our young blood. Wade Hampton was 
raising a Legion to go to Virginia ; but it was filled be- 
fore we heard of it, and the only chance to go as cavalry 
was for the men who were eager to get to the front, to 
join the Beaufort District Troop, from Grahamville, 
Beaufort District, which had been promised a place in 
the Legion by Col. Hampton, if they could raise eighty- 
five men, rank and file. That was our opportunity to 
get to the front, "and see the flashing of the guns." 
Luckily for us, the Beaufort District Troop wanted re- 
cruits, and seven men from the Marion Men of Comba- 
hee joined them. Their names were: Capt. W. L. 
Henderson, R. S. Williams, S. D. and M. M. Boynton, 
J. F. Dupont, N. L. Cannon, E. P. Henderson; with 
five others from Walterboro, Colleton District, S. C. — 
John Campbell, Wm. Miller, Josiah Beck, Theodore 
Dehon, and John Lewis. In May, the Beaufort Dis- 
trict Troop rendezvoused at Gillisonville, was received 
and mustered in the Hampton Legion. We were then 
allowed to return home, to be ready at a moment's 
warning to start for the seat of war — "The grand Old 
Dominion." How quickly those bright sunny days of 
May and June, 1861, passed. Every one then had a 
kind word for us, man and horse, for, of course, the 
horse is the most important part of a cavalry soldier's 
outfit. What would the rider be without the steed? 
My mother had long, earnest talks with me, in those 
happy days of June, on the old plantation. I could 
almost imagine, from her talk, that she had been a war 
horse ; but I suppose it was from what she had read of 
different battles, as I am almost certain she could read. 
Her talks and advice, indeed, proved a blessing to me, 
for who among all of the old Confederate steeds of the 
Legion, and 2d South Carolina Cavalry, or any other 
command that went out in 1861, went all through the 

10 



war, is at present alive andi now writing his "autobi- 
graphy." I solemnly believe it was from obeying and 
following my old mother's counsel that I am now alive, 
and that have made the reputation for myself, that such 
heroes and soldiers as Generals Wade Hampton, M. C. 
Butler and other gallant souls say I have. How sad it 
is for me to think, even at this distant day, of my final 
parting with her ! For after I kissed her good-bye, the 
morning I left for Virginia, I never saw her again. 
Long before the ''Cruel War" ended, her bones were 
bleaching on the old pasture hills of the "orchard 
swamp." Peace to her ashes, and if there is a heaven 
for good, faithful horses (and why should there not 
be?) may we meet there and be happy once more, is the 
earnest prayer of her loving son. 



CHAPTER III. 

On the 15th of June, 1861, my master and his 
brother got orders from Capt. T. E. Screven, of Beau- 
fort District Troop, to meet the company at Green 
Pond depot, on the 19th; that the train with the com- 
panies would leave Grahamville depot at 8 A. M. and 
arrive at Green Pond at 1 1 A. M. to> take us to Charles- 
ton and thence to Columbia, to be regularly inspected 
and mustered in. What a memorable day that 19th of 
June, 1 86 1 ! Every one weeping — men, women and 
horses — at saying "good-bye." Even the negroes left 
their work in the cotton fields to say good-bye to their 
young masters (Ben, the negro servant,) and us three 
horses, Oceola, my master's brother's horse, Powell, 
(servant's horse), Arab, my humble self. Such a 
hand-shaking of human beings and patting of horses, I 
have never seen the like of before or since. 

11 



Well, we got away at last, and started for Green 
Pond station, a distance of nine miles. Every one we 
met had some kind word and a good-bye for us all. 
Soon we arrived at the station ; the train steamed up, 
with the Beaufort District Troop aboard. After a 
speech from my master's father, we three horses were 
put aboard, and off for Charleston we started. What 
a strange sensation to me, my first ride on the cars ! I 
who was used to being ridden, was now riding. We 
had a pleasant trip, with the exception of some hard 
thumps occasionally. All the talk was war, man and 
horse. We arrived at the new bridge (for the road 
was not completed at that time) some time before sun- 
set, and each horseman led out his steed. We were 
bridled and saddled in a few moments, all eager to cross 
New Bridge, and see Charleston, "The famous City by 
the Sea." 

CHAPTER IV. 

We were met here by three cavalry companies from 
Charleston, who were to escort us to the city. The 
companies were Charleston Light Dragoons, Rutledge 
Mounted Riflemen, and German Hussars. They es- 
corted us across the New Bridge, down to the Battery, 
up Broad street to Meeting, then to Armory Hall, 
where a splendid supper awaited the men ; to the horses 
nothing. After the supper and speech-making by the 
different company officers, we horses were taken to the 
Pavilion Hotel stables, where we had our supper. I 
was very glad of it, for in those days I was not used to 
late hours and no rations. Bright and early the next 
morning, the men were busy getting their new uni- 
forms, etc. Then came the shoeing of us horses. Here 
I experienced wearing my first pair of shoes, and they 

12 



felt very strange and awkward to me at first; but I 
soon found out their use on the Charleston rocks. 

We were to leave for Columbia by the S. C. R. R. at 
4 P. M. About 3 P. M., the company was formed, 
corner of Meeting and Hasell streets, in front of Pavil- 
ion Hotel. The hotel balcony was crowded with 
ladies. They asked our riders to throw them their 
hats; they did so, and on each hat the ladies sewed a 
palmetto cockade. We 'horses were entirely over- 
looked! — a strange oversight for ladies to be guilty of ; 
but I took it for granted, that it was because we did not 
wear hats. We then proceeded to King street, via 
Wentworth, and up King to South Carolina Railroad 
depot, where we embarked for Columbia. We reached 
Columbia the next morning, were taken off the cars, 
and then marched out to Camp Hampton, a distance of 
three miles. After being here a few days, a day was 
appointed for the inspection of horses — for, according 
to army regulations, there is a maximum and minimum 
in regard to height. The eventful day soon came. The 
men were ordered to fall in, by Orderly Sergeant James 
W. Moore, of Gillisonville, S. C. Each man was to 
lead his horse, and pass in front of the Inspecting 
Board, consisting of three officers — Col. Wade Hamp- 
ton, Lieut. Col. Ben. Johnson and Col. John S. Preston. 



CHAPTER V. 

It was a sad day for some of my brother-horses, for 
the two who preceded me were both rejected, for being 
under the minimum height. I could see and hear all 
that was done and said from where I was, and I must 
confess my 'hopes of going to Virginia fell about ioo 
degrees, for I was only four years old, and small at 

13 



best. Still, when my time came to be led 1 by, I stepped 
as proudly forward as if I was twenty hands high. As 
I got directly in front of the inspectors, where the pre- 
ceding horses had been halted for examination, one of 
the inspectors, Lieut. Col. Ben. Johnson, of the Hamp- 
ton Legion, said to my master, ''Take your horse on, 
sir;" and turning to the other inspectors, said, "Did 
you ever see a better muscled horse, for a small horse ? 
Mark my words, that horse will stand the service, if 
any of them do." Oh, what praise, coming as it did 
from one who, from my earliest colt days, I had heard 
termed one among the best judges of horse-flesh in 
South Carolina, a State where every other man is a 
horseman, and a judge of horse-flesh. 

Reader, with all my elation of spirit and pride at the 
praise, how sad indeed I would have felt, if I could 
have foreseen that in a few short weeks, he who uttered 
this praise, would be filling a soldier's grave — killed on 
the 2 ist day of July, on the battlefield of First Manas- 
sas. Brave spirit, rest in peace. You died for what 
you believed was a just and holy cause. Can mortal 
man do more? 

Here it was at this inspection that I got a close view 
of our Colonel, Wade Hampton. That matchless sol- 
dier and courteous gentleman, who I had the honor to 
follow many a day in the future, when he gave his 
well known command, "Draw sabres. Follow me." 
I loved and trusted him in those war d'ays and will con- 
tinue to do so to the end of life, horse though I am. 



14 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Hampton Legion consisted! of seven companies 
of infantry, four of cavalry, and a battery of artillery. 
The cavalry companies were : from Edgefield District, 
Edgefield Hussars, Capt. M. C. Butler; Greenville Dis- 
trict, Brooks Troop, Capt. John Lanneau; Richland 
District, Congaree Troop, Capt. Thomas Taylor; 
Beaufort District, Beaufort District Troop, Capt. T. E. 
Screven. The up-country companies had all large, 
fine-looking horses, but before we left Columbia, we 
Beaufort Troop horses proved to them conclusively 
that they could neither out- jump us, or out-run us. 
Our Colonel had a ditch and bar arranged for the cav- 
alry to practice at, and if I am not very much mistaken, 
the Beaufort District Troop horses bore off the palm, 
jumping that ditch and leaping that bar — myself mak- 
ing second to the highest jump made. We were soon 
ordered to be ready to start for Virginia, and left by 
the Charlotte Railroad. After a rather uneventful 
passage, with the exception of hard thumps in the box- 
cars, we arrived at Petersburg, Va. The people of 
Petersburg seemed delighted to greet us, and gave men 
and horses a nice dinner at the fair grounds. .We were 
then marched to Richmond, a distance of nineteen 
miles. We passed through the principal streets and 
were greeted and cheered by every one. We then 
went into camp, at a place called "The Rockets," where 
we found the infantry and artillery of the Legion en- 
camped. 

On the first Sunday after we arrived at Richmond, 
the Legion was ordered out for dress parade, to be in- 
spected by the President of "The Southern Confeder- 
acy," Jefferson Davis. As you can well imagine, we 
were all eager to see him, both men and horses. We 

15 



were formed about 4 P. M., to be seen and to see. The 
President soon appeared, followed by a numerous staff, 
dressed like himself in citizen's dress. I well remem- 
ber, he was mounted on a beautiful white horse, and 
sat as erect on his steed as a young man of twenty 
years. The man on my master's left (Moses Boyn- 
ton) said to him, "He rides as if he was a cavalry sol- 
dier himself. Look how straight he sits in his saddle." 
My master replied, "Why, don't you remember be is an 
old Mexican War soldier, and commanded a Missis- 
sippi regiment, under 'Old Rough and Ready.' ' 

I heard afterwards President Davis was very much 
pleased with the appearance of the Legion, especially 
the cavalry companies (showed his good taste), and 
told Col. Hampton, "They are a splendid looking body 
of horses and men, and I think they will make a name 
for themselves." And sure enough we did. 



CHAPTER VII. 

Soon afterwards the cavalry were ordered to Ash- 
land, the once famous race track of Virginia. I heard 
one of the officers say we were ordered here to be 
drilled by some of the old West Point officers, who had 
resigned from the United States army and linked their 
fortunes with the voung Confederacy. We were there 
drilled by the two Lees, W. H. F., Gen. R. E. Lee's 
son, and Fitzhugh Lee, the General's nephew, also 
Lomax and Fields. I think by the stars on their col- 
lars they were all Colonels at that time. Many a day, 
in the years to come, I saw them as Brigadier and 
Major Generals. I remember we all, horses and men, 
were amused at their "West Point drawl" (so the men 
called it), and a command given by one of them during 

16 



drill ( I think, Col. Lomax, ) and never forgotten by us, 
was this : "Move out there, you man on the gray horse 
— move out briskly/' Soldiers never forget any cir- 
cumstance that amuses them, and to the close of the war 
you could hear that command from the veterans of 
July, 1 86 1. 

We had good quarters at Ashland, in the old race- 
horse stables, for man and horse. We had a plenty to 
eat, those early days of the war, before we had learned 
to eat pine straw, bark or anything else. So with our 
good quarters and feed, Ave did not mind the severe 
drilling, morning and afternoon. Still we had time to 
try the old race track. I was taken out several times, 
to contend with some horse, supposed to be fast, for a 
half mile dash. I sustained my reputation, too; and 
from this fact came my first real notice from officers 
and privates of the four cavalry companies. It was 
here at old Ashland we got the first news of fig J hting 
going on at the front. We soon received orders to 
march to Manassas. What a day that was we started. 
Raining in torrents, and although it was July, the rain 
was like ice. We passed through a little sort of vil- 
lage, called Goldensville, and a family of Taylors — I 
think they were originally from South Carolina — 
brought out something in water buckets for the men. 
I don't know exactly what it was, but I am certain it 
was not water. It seemed to help the feelings of the 
men a great deal, for to my great surprise, nearly every 
one was singing and laughing. 

We passed through Fredericksburg town on the third 
day's march, after camping the second night at old 
Massaponax Church, in sight of the railroad cut, where 
the following winter Stonewall Jackson's corps was 
stationed), and where the gallant Pelham, of the Stuart 
Horse Artillery, filled the cut with Federal dead, liter- 

17 



ally mowed down by his pieces. It was there the brave 
Alabamian gained the name of the "Gallant Pel ham," 
bestowed on him by that peerless soldier, "without 
stain or reproach," Robert E. Lee. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

We arrived at Manassas on the 22d of July, the day 
after the battle. That was the only battle of the war 
that we had the good luck to arrive too late to partici- 
pate in. At that time we were all terribly disappointed 
at missing the battle, but we learned better in the 
future. My first ride over a battle-field, how well I 
remember each incident connected with that ride. How 
grieved I felt for the dead horses and men, the 
wounded and mangled more than the dead. My heart 
was very tender in those days. 

The Legion infantry and artillery were in the battle, 
and though they suffered severely, they covered them- 
selves "all over with glory' — so I heard every one say- 
ing, from Gen. Beauregard down to the lowest private. 
Our Colonel was wounded, and as I have said before, 
our gallant Lieutenant Colonel was killed. Late that 
afternoon I was saddled up, to bear my master over to 
the field hospital. He with others of the Beaufort Dis- 
trict Troop were going to see some wounded friends 
from Colleton District. One of them most seriously 
wounded was Willow Green, of the Washington Light 
Infantry, Hampton Legion, Capt. James Connor, 
commanding. I heard one of the men of our party 
say as they came out of the hospital, "Poor Green, he 
can never get over his wound, for he is shot through 
and through." We none of us knew in those days of 
July, 1 86 1, that a man or horse could be shot nearly 

18 



in half, and then recover. In fact, I came to know 
some men and horses that it seemed to me neither shot 
nor shell could kill. 

The Legion went into camp on Bull Run, very near 
the battle-field. In fact, the doctors said that was the 
reason so many of our men were dbwn sick with ty- 
phoid fever. We horses, you see, it could not affect. 
From the Beaufort Troop alone there were a great 
many sick, three dangerously ill — Lieut. Wilson 
Broughton, Plato Searson, and my master. The lat- 
ter was taken to a house near Brentsville, owned by 
Mrs. Foster, or as she was commonly called by her 
neighbors and friends, "Aunt Peggy Foster," an old 
time Virginia lady, noted for her kindness of heart and 
generous hospitality to every one, especially Confede- 
rate soldiers. Aunt Peggy, God bless her, took all 
three of us in, man and horse — my master's brother, 
who was detailed to nurse him, Ben, the servant, and 
all three of us horses. So I had a short period of home 
life once more, for Aunt Peggy fed us on the best, and 
her two nieces, who lived with her, vied with their aunt 
to let us want for nothing in their power to bestow. 
Their names were Misses Sallie and Maggie Williams. 
They were sisters to the dashing Captain of the Prince 
William Cavalry, 1st Virginia Regiment of Cavalry. 
Oh ! those Virginia people, who bore the brunt of the 
war, how hospitable and kind you were to the Confed- 
erate soldiers, man and horse. You were all kind, 
especially the women. I don't believe a Virginian ever 
refused a Southern soldier a meal of victuals or his 
horse a feed) of corn and hay. As soon as my master 
could get in the saddle, we bade adieu to this hospitable 
family and joined the command at Bacon Race (much 
to my regret, I know), about twelve or fourteen miles 
below Manassas. We staid there for some weeks, and 

19 



then joined the balance of the Legion at Dumfries. It 
was here I came to know Capt. Theo. G. Barker person- 
ally. He was the Adjutant of the Legion. His gal- 
lantry was proverbial, and his black horse only second 
to Arab. While at this camp, I heard my first "long 
roll alarm" ( for we were camped very near our Legion 
Infantry) . It was done, I heard, to try us, by order of 
Gen. Wigfall, in command of the forces in this vicinity. 
It took us some time to get ready, in the dark ; but when 
we did get ready, we were disappointed that it was a 
false alarm, "and we had no foe to face." We staid 
here a month or so, doing picket duty at Keart's Farm 
and Evans Port, on the Potomac River. We then 
moved to Camp Wigfall, near the village of Occoquon, 
and went into our first and last winter quarters. From 
this camp we did picket duty at Powheick Church. 
(This church was where Gen. George Washington 
worshipped, for it was not more than twelve miles from 
Mount Vernon.) Can time or memory ever blot out 
those days of the winter of 1861? No, nothing but 
death will ever efface them from my mind. The snow 
storms I was in at Mrs. Violet's (our reserve picket 
post). The crossing to and fro of that rocky ford, 
Selectmans; the gay dances I bore my master to, at 
Geo. Davis,' at Davis' Ford; the different scouts Col. 
Hampton took us on, beyond Powheick Church, in 
front of Alexandria. 



CHAPTER IX. 

I will now try and give the roll of the Beaufort 
Troop, as well as I remember it at this distant day. In 
those days I knew the roll by heart, as it originally was 
in July, 1 86 1, for I had heard our gallant little Orderly 

20 



Sergeant call it so often, at reveille and tattoo, as I 
stood, covered with snow and icicles, hitched to my tree 
or stake. Now, if I should omit the name of any of the 
"Braves" of that gallant old troop, deem it forgetful- 
ness and not intentional : 

ROU, OF BEAUFORT DISTRICT TROOP. 

Capt., Thos. E. Screven, 
ist Lieut., Jack Ferrebee. 
Sr. 2d Lieut., W. E. Proctor. 
Jr. 2d Lieut., W. W. Brougditon. 
Chaplain, Rev. Richard Jo'hnson. 
ist Sergt., James W. Moore. 
2d Sergt., Dr. W. L. Henderson. 
3d Sergt., A. M. Ruth. 
4th Sergt., T. E. Bessellieu. 
ist Carpi., John C. Davant. 
2d Corpl., John Grimes. 
3d 1 Corpl., E. P. Henderson. 
4th Corpl., Joe. Ferguson. 

PRIVATES. 

Josiah Beck. Jack Mew. 

Jacob Berg. Dr. H. W. Moore. 

C. M. Bessellieu. Wiley W. McTeer. 

J. H. Bessellieu. Bill Miller. 

Thurston Bessellieu. W. A. Mickler. 

Tom. Bolan. W. T. Norwood. 

Dick Boyd. Daniel Oglesby. 

M. M. Boynton. Callie Pelot. 

S. D. Boynton. Frank Porcher. 

Aleck Bowie. Joe Porcher. 

Billy Bull. Thos. Rooney. 

John Campbell. Dr. Whitmarsh Seabrook. 

21 



Nat. Cannon. 
Jim Clifton. 
Jim Davis. 
Bill Doe Davant. 
Theodore Dehon. 
Ned Drayton. 
Tom Dudley. 
John Dupont. 
W. E. Dupont. 
John Fairley. 
Eldred Fickling. 
E. P. Ford. 
Jim Garvin. 
Rawlins Grimes. 
Jim Halford. 
Sam Heape. 
Fletcher Hughes. 
O. P. Law. 
John Lewis. 



R. P. Searson. 

D. W. Sanders. 

Eldred Simkins. 

S. Shoolbread. 

Clarence Speaks. 

W. H. Speaks. 

Archie Speights. 

W. Strdbart. 

Nelson Terry. 

Ned. Willingham. 

Winnie Joe Willingham. 

Jim Wiggins. 

Josh Woods. 

R. S. Williams. 

Bill John Verdier. 

Bill Youmans. 

Silver Hill Bill Youmans. 

T. J. Jeffers. 



CHAPTER X. 



I will now give an account of some of the Colonel's 
scouting expeditions, in the winter of 1861, one espe- 
cially, called "The Christmas Scout." The Beaufort 
District Troop, chosen from the four companies to 
accompany the infantry detachment of the Legion, com- 
manded by Capt. James Connor ; Capt. T. E. Screven 
commanding his company, the Beaufort District 
Troop ; the whole under Col. Wade Hampton. Pow- 
heick Church was the advance picket post of the Con- 
federate army, towards Alexandria and Washington. 
Alexandria was the advance post of the Federal army. 
The ground between the two advance posts of the 
armies was termed "neutral ground. " There we laid 

22 



our traps for the enemy, and he laid his for us, and 
over this eight miles between the two posts, we did our 
winter skirmishing and fighting — learning our first 
lessons in the "arts of war." Well, now for a descrip- 
tion of the "Christmas Scout." We crossed the 
Occoquon River at Occoquon village ; passed through 
the little hamlet of Colchester, Mrs. Violette's, and 
Powheick Church, and entered on the "neutral 
ground." Here Col. Hampton placed Capt. Connor 
in ambush with his little detachment of infantry, and 
some picked men from the Beaufort District Troop, 
armed with double-barrelled shot-guns. A small de- 
tachment from the cavalry was then sent forward, to 
draw the enemy in our trap. Col. Hampton, with the 
balance of the troop, stationed near by, under cover, to 
charge the enemy, when Capt. Connor's men fired into 
them. Everything promised to work nicely, and we 
expected to make a "good haul." The cavalry decoy 
sent forward, soon met a party of "blue coats" on a 
scout, and our men, according to the programme, 
turned and fled, the Yankees, of course, pursuing. Just 
before they entered the trap laid for them, a negro spy 
gave them notice of the ambuscade in their front ; but 
before they got the warning, they had gotten in gun- 
shot of the ambush, and Capt. Connor seeing they had 
wheeled to fly, ordered his men to open fire on them. 
They did so, but, strange to say, not near as many sad- 
dles were emptied as the accuracy of the marksmen 
promised. But those of us from the mounted ambush, 
who pursued them, soon found out, from some we 
overtook and captured, the cause of the whole thing. 
Our firing party had special orders from Capt. Connor 
to fire at the riders, and not the horses — the latter were 
wanted for remounts. The cause of our not seeing 
more of the men fall than did, was this : that they (the 

23 



men) were strapped to their saddles. The horses, of 
course, carried the bodies of their riders back to their 
main body, which was in the rear of the advancing 
Yankees. Now this looks incredible, but it can be 
verified by many truthful men to-day, and by horses, 
too, if they had the sense of Arab. The Federals were 
teaching their recruits to ride, as well as fight. A 
strange thing it was to us, where our people were 
''natural born riders." It furnished both men and 
horses something to talk about the whole winter. 



CHAPTER XI. 

Now for scout No. 2. Some time in January, 1862, 
Col. Hampton, with detachments from the four cavalry 
companies, and one piece of Capt. S. D. Lee's battery 
of the Legion, crossed the Occoquon River, and started 
via Powheick Church towards Alexandria. We had 
gotten only a few miles beyond the church, when we 
ran into a small party of Union cavalry. They imme- 
diately turned and fled, we in hot pursuit. They were 
well mounted, and showed us they, at least, knew how 
to ride. We had pursued them about a mile and a 
half, every horse doing his best, when Ave came to a 
high hill, leading beyond to a beautiful valley. The 
three men on horses ahead, at this period of the pursuit, 
were Col. Hampton, on his black, Sergeant Woodward 
Barnwell, on his bay, and my owner, on his grey 
(Arab). Just as we were clearing the hill to proceed 
down the valley, a man in grey uniform dashed out 
from the undergrowth on the left of the road, and 
shouted to Col. Hampton to halt. The man ran 
directly in front of the Colonel's horse, and as I heard 
afterwards, begging him for God's sake to stop the 

24 



pursuit, for he was running into a regular ambuscade 
set for him; that down in the valley I spoke of, was 
concealed a large force of infantry and artillery, be- 
sides the cavalry, andl that he (Burke), a Texas scout, 
had been concealed, where we found him, for several 
hours, watching their movements, and wondering what 
they were after. The Colonel immediately stopped the 
pursuit, and formed us on the top of the hill. The last 
man to stop was Sergeant Barnwell, and he was nearly 
a hundred yards down the hill when he was halted. As 
some one remarked, "It looked like the Sergeant was 
going to charge them single-handed." 

How well I remember to this day that sight. The 
whole valley was blue with the Yankee cavalry. They 
kept their infantry and artillery still concealed, think- 
ing, I suppose, that we were forming on the hill to 
charge them, not knowing yet that Burke had divulged 
their plans. When they found out that we were not 
going to charge them, and enter their trap, they were 
mad, indeed. They taunted us in every way, shaking 
their sabres at us, and "cursing us to boot." Then 
they commenced firing on us, and we on them — they 
with their Sharp's carbines, and we with our pistols, 
for the men at that time had no rifles, only the sword 
and pistol. They, of course, had the best of this long 
range firing. We ha'd one man seriously wounded, 
Corp. Lip. Griffin, Edgefield Hussars, shot in the face ; 
one or two others slightly wounded, and several horses 
struck. Col. Hampton, knowing he could not contend 
with the force in his front, retreated across the Occo- 
quon, sorely regretting he did not have the entire 
Legion with us. If it had not been for Burke's timely 
warning, how different it might have been for many of 
us, who are alive to-day. This scout, Burke, some 
weeks before this incident took place, with eight or ten 

25 



other Texas soldiers, from the 4th and 5th Texas regi- 
ments, had been sent on a scouting expedition towards 
Alexandria. On their return, a heavy snow-storm 
started on them before they could cross the Occoquon 
River, which on the south side was in the Confederate 
lines. They concluded to stop and spend the night at 
Colchester, north of the river, in a small but com- 
fortable house, with a good chimney, deeming it both 
possible and probable from the inclement weather that 
they would be safe from the enemy. While they were 
all asleep, part of a Federal regiment of infantry, 
which had been in pursuit of them, surrounded the 
house, and ordered them to surrender. But they zvere 
Texans, and did not understand that word, surrender. 
They opened fire on the enemy, and after a terrible and 
bloody fight of several hours, they succeeded in driving 
the enemy off. The Texans then left the house, bring- 
ing off their wounded comrades, and crossed the river 
safely. Burke in after years became famous as the 
chief of scouts for Gen. Robt. E. Lee, and ranked as 
Colonel. We were thrown with him a great deal in 
after years. And I will have cause to speak of the 
brave and gallant "Texas Lawyer" and scout again. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Now for scout No. 3. It was some weeks later, that 
we went over again on this "neutral ground," between 
the lines of the two armies. Col. Hampton had with 
him detachments from the four cavalry companies. 
We were about half way between Powheick Church 
and Alexandria, when our advance guard reported the 
enemy's cavalry advancing in our front. I think Col. 
Hampton had gone another road, to meet with us 

26 



again nearer Alexandria. The command was in 
charge of the senior Captain of the four companies, 
that brave and gallant soldier, who we all looked up to 
and trusted, even at that early day — Capt. M. C. But- 
ler, Edgefield Hussars. I remember this fact dis- 
tinctly : that the Beaufort District Troop detachment 
was the rear detachment at the time Col. Butler ordered 
the charge. We dashed forward, up a steep and very 
boggy clay hill, the enemy firing on us from the top of 
the hill. Before we reached' the top, the Beaufort Dis- 
trict Troop men were pretty well represented at the 
front. I know I had borne my rider among the fore- 
most. The enemy could not stand the charge, and we 
routed and pursued them in sight of their picket lines, 
killing several and capturing a good many. We did 
not lose a man or horse. The only accident happened 
to our leader, Capt. Butler. Just before we reached 
the top of the hill, his horse slipped up and fell, falling 
on the Captain's leg, and giving him a severe shock and 
much pain. As we were passing, several men were as- 
sisting him to regain his feet, and I noticed he was very 
pale, and I thought at the time he was wounded. I 
suppose my master thought so also, for he halted me 
long enough to throw a flask (of water, I suppose,) to 
the men for the Captain's benefit. 

We passed the balance of the winter of 1861 at this 
camp, doing picket duty on the advance post of the 
Confederate army, scouting and skirmishing with the 
enemy frequently. We made a charge at Gibbes' 
Lane, near Acquitink, killing and capturing several 
men and horses. One other incident happened, while 
we were camped here in this country, very appropri- 
ately called "The Forest." On one of our scouting 
expeditions, we encountered a regiment of cavalry 
recently gotten up, who were expected to perform won- 

27 



ders. They were called "Scott's Nine Hundred." 
They were armed with lances instead of sabres. They 
came out that morning from Alexandria, via "Wolf 
Run Shoals," for their first scout (and it did prove 
their first and last, for we broke them up "finally and 
teetotally)." We encountered them about four miles 
south of Wolf Run. Col. Hampton had about half the 
number of men as composed the regiment of lancers. 
But putting a "bold front forward," as he always did 
(and always will do), he ordered the charge, and you 
ought to have been there to see those lancers run. The 
road for miles was strewn with their lances, each lance 
having a miniature U. S. flag attached to it. They 
were splendidly mounted, and their horses "sure" made 
good time, for they had some pretty fast horses pursu- 
ing them (myself, for instance). We captured very 
few until they got to Wolf Run Shoals ; our trophies 
consisting of the lances they had thrown away, haver- 
sacks, blankets, etc., with about a half dozen prisoners. 
But now the hour of reckoning came, when they at- 
tempted to cross this awful rocky and swift ford at full 
speed when it was dangerous to cross it at a walk. For 
many is the good horse I have seen slip up and go 
down while we were crossing and recrossing, going 
and returning from picket. The ford was filled with 
fallen men and horses. Only a small detachment 
crossed in safety, and got back to Alexandria. That 
was the last I ever heardi of the famous "Scott's Nine 
Hundred." If they ever reorganized, they never came 
to the front again, for you know I was there, from the 
first to last, as a horse was obliged to be, who first 
followed Wade Hampton and M. C. Butler, and last 
followed and surrendered under the Murat of the 
Southern Confederacy, that gallant and brave Georgia 
soldier, Gen. Pierce M. Butler Young. 

28 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The "Old Forest of Virginia." Little did' I think, 
when I left it so regretfully, in March, 1862, to go into 
camp at Catlett Station, on the Orange and Alexandria 
Railroad, that I would ever see the place again. Nor 
could I foresee that in the coming days of 1863 and 
1864, every dark and dense thicket for twenty miles 
around would be a hiding place, or perhaps an ambush 
laid for the enemy, when my master was detailed a 
regular scout, under Sergt. W. A. Mickler, command- 
ing Hampton's Scouts. 

We remained several weeks at Catletts, waiting (my 
horse sense told me) to see what move our army at 
Manassas, under command of that gallant soldier, Gen. 
Joseph E. Johnston, were going to make. Nothing of 
consequence happened while we were encamed here, 
except an awful wind and rain storm, which blew down 
every tent and horse shed in the entire command. The 
men sought shelter from the storm in the houses sur- 
rounding the station, the horses were left to face it as 
best they could, with a few exceptions. I know that I 
was procured a good shelter that awful night in Mr. 
Catlett's warm stable. 

In a few days we got orders to report at Manassas. 
We knew our army was falling back, for we were en- 
camped in a few hundred yards of the railroad. We 
proceeded to Manassas, I suppose to act as rear guard, 
also to get some of the spoils that could not be carried 
off. What a sight when we left there — every man's 
horse loaded down with things most needed. I re- 
member, for one thing, I had a fine ham, slung on each 
side, and by that time of the war I had gotten very 
fond of bacon, for Ben had taught me to eat and drink 
any and everything that was eaten by man. I was 

29 



very sorry, indeed, to see them burning up so much 
good corn, oats and hay, bacon, flour, etc. Many a 
day, in the future days of the war, when I was half 
starved, have I thought of the good things burnt up at 
the evacuation of Manassas. I heard a great many of 
the men and some of the horses abusing and blaming 
Gen. Johnston for the burning, but I was not one of the 
abusers, for I always thought my Generals knew 
best, and especially "Old Joe," as we all termed him. 

We fell back very leisurely, via Trenniss Cross- 
roads, thence to Grove Church, about ten or twelve 
miles north-west of Fredericksburg. Gen. Johnston 
with the main army encamped at the latter place. The 
Legion cavalry went into camp at Grove Church, dbing 
picket duty in the direction of Manassas and some few 
fords above us on the Rappahannock River. We staid 
here a week or two, and then followed the main army 
to Fredericksburg, and then acted as rear guard to the 
army when it left there, on its way to Richmond' (as 
we all thought). But when we reached Richmond, 
we passed on towards the Peninsula. And now we 
heard we were going to Yorktown, to reinforce the 
brave Magruder, who with a small army had! been 
holding in check for some time the "Young Napoleon" 
(McClellan), although the latter was in command (as 
the Yankees termed it) of "The finest army on the 
planet." Here we went into camp at Caracoa Mills, a 
few miles above Yorktown. While encamped here the 
entire army reorganized, electing new officers, and en- 
listing for so many years, or the war. Well, horse as 
I was, and having no vote or say in the matter, I did 
not approve of throwing good and tried officers out, 
and putting others in their places, who lacked experi- 
ence. Time proved it hurt our cause, more than any 
one supposed at that period. Many a good and effi- 

80 



cient officer lost his "stars and bars" from this reorgan- 
ization. And 1 though time and service proved that 
their places were filled by worthy men, k 'The Cause" 
felt their loss for some time, for in the near future in- 
credible wonders had to be performed by this army, 
commanded by Gen. Joe Johnston. Here Capt. M. C. 
Butler was appointed Major of the Legion cavalry. 
The brave and efficient Capt. Lanneau, Brooks Troop, 
lost his position, and several others from the cavalry 
companies. The only change in the Beaufort District 
Troop that I remember, was the filling of the position 
of 2d Lieut., Jr., made vacant by the resignation of 
Lieut. W. A. Proctor, on account of injuries received 
in the winter of 1861. The position was filled by our 
brave and efficient Orderly Sergt. James W. Moore, 
and his position filled by O. P. Law, a true and tried 
soldier. I regretted very much at THE time, hearing 
of the "throwing out" of two of our Legion artillery 
officers — Capt. Stephen D. Lee, of Charleston, S. C, 
and Lieut. Paul Hamilton, of Beaufort — Beaufort Dis- 
trict, S. C, men, who were fitted to command in any 
cause, both by efficiency and bravery. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

On Saturday, the 5th of May, 1862, Maj. Butler 
was ordered to report at Yorktown with his command. 
We reported late that afternoon, and did patrol duty in 
and around the town that night. Of course, we could 
see that the place was being evacuated, and our forces 
were falling back towards Richmond. Nothing of im- 
portance occurred that night, except the explosion of a 
house, filled with shells and other explosives. It ap- 
pears that the explosives had been placed in (or left) 
the house by our forces, with a fuse attached, to ex- 

31 



plode and 1 injure the advancing enemy. Some of our 
soldiers "prowling" around, looking for, "who knows 
what" lit the fuse, and a terrible explosion followed, 
wounding and injuring eight or ten men. 

About sunrise, Sunday morning, we left Yorktown, 
acting as rear guard. What a beautiful Sabbath day 
it was, every thing around us looked so calm and peace- 
ful. About ii A. M., we reached what was called 
"The River Road," which we were ordered to follow. 
Our place as rear guard was then taken by a regiment 
of Virginia cavalry, Col. Davis in command. We had 
a peaceful, quiet day (until late in the afternoon), 
stopping on the beautiful grassy banks of the York 
River, to eat our rations, just opposite a grand' old 
plantation, the lawn and grounds covered with magnifi- 
cent oaks, which looked like they were centuries old. 
The River Road, which we were following, connected 
again with the main road, near Williamsburg. We 
arrived at this place some little time before sunset, not 
having seen a Yankee in pursuit of us. Still we had 
heard that there had been considerable skirmishing, on 
the road we had left ; in fact, we could hear the firing. 
After our arrival at Williamsburg, we had just passed 
Fort Magruder to go to the rear, to encamp, when a 
mounted Orderly came dashing up to Major Butler, 
and saluting, said: "Gen. Stuart says report to him, 
with your command, as speedily as you can." The 
Major told the Orderly, "to lead the way to Gen. 
Stuart," and ordered the command to follow. We 
proceeded about a half mile, back the way we had just 
come. When we found Gen. Stuart, he told Maj. 
Butler that the enemy had cut off one of his Virginia 
regiments from entering the town, and said, "See them 
across that valley; charge and scatter them, so that my 
men may be able to rejoin us." 

32 



Maj. Butler ordered his command to form platoons. 
This was done promptly, every man and horse forget- 
ting the fatigue of the day's march, and the supper we 
had just been looking forward to. The Major then 
gave the command: "Draw sabres. King, sound the 
charge" (King was our bugler, an old English soldier, 
and the best bugler in Confederate service;. Off we 
dashed, down the hill and across a regular quagmire 
at the foot, striking the 6th regiment of Pennsylvania 
cavalry about the centre, and routed them, after a 
hand-to-hand fight, pursuing them to the top of the 
next hill. Here we were charged by another regiment 
and driven back to our former crossing place (but we 
had rescued the Virginia regiment, as Gen. Stuart said 
in his general orders). And what a crossing place it 
was, knee-deep in mud, and covered with dead and 
wounded men and horses. About the time I got there, 
the place was blocked on the right and left of the cross- 
ing place. The trees at each side had been cut down, 
to prevent crossing, except at this one place. The fir- 
ing at the rear at this time was getting pretty hot, for 
the Yankee infantry were firing on us, as well as their 
cavalry who were pursuing us. It seemed: like there 
was no way of getting across except by waiting for 
those in front to cross over. So my master said to 
me, "Arab, this will never do ; we must get away from 
here somehow, if we have to go over the fallen trees; 
try yourself now and take me out of this place; my life 
depends on your heels." He then turned me to the 
right, amongst the fallen trees and brush. It seemed 
a regular fox chase, like the old days "Before the war" 
(leaving out the bullets). I got through better than I 
expected, my leaps expedited by the balls whizzing over 
and around me. I bore my rider safely to the top of 
the hill, where the command was reformed and the 



rolls called 1 . Here we found out the Beaufort District 
Troop had one man missing and the other companies 
several killed and wounded. The Beaufort Troop 
man was S. D. Boynton. My master volunteered to 
go with his brother and Nat Cannon and find him. We 
found him lying in the mud at the crossing, danger- 
ously wounded under his sword arm, and in a dying 
condition. The men attempted to get him off, but he 
died before they got him to the top of the hill, trying to 
the last to utter some words to my master, who was 
supporting his head. Poor Steve Boynton. He was 
buried that night in old Williamsburg. 

"He sleeps his last sleep, 

He has fought his last battle, 

No sound can awake him to glory again." 

The Brooks Troop had one good soldier killed 1 in 
this charge, W. E. Boggs. The Congaree Troop, 
several severly wounded, ist Sergt. Jimmie Fowles 
(lost his arm from the wound), and brave young Gil- 
lespie Thorn well, who received six sabre thrusts in his 
breast, another man named McQuirter (I think) was 
wounded. 

Two incidents, and I will finish with our fight at 
Williamsburg. When we started to make the charge, 
we had to pass directly in front of Fort Magruder. In 
the fort was stationed a regiment of South Carolina in- 
fantry (the 2d, I think). As we passed the infantry 
in the fort saw the palmetto cockade on our riders' 
hats, and gave three cheers for South Carolina. I 
know it must have inspired the feelings of the men, for, 
horse as I am, I consider myself a South Carolinian, 
and I remember when I heard those cheers for the old 
State, that I felt I could charge the entire Yankee 
army. 

34 



Just after we passed the "crossing place," making 
the charge, the men got "mixed 1 up," or out of align- 
ment. Maj. Butler gave several orders to the men, 
and finally told them to follow him, in a voice heard 
above the roar of the rifles and pistols. Jack Watts, 
of the Edgefield Hussars, was heard to say, "Go ahead, 
Major, we will follow you to h — 1." Two men of the 
command, in this charge, killed their adversaries with 
the sabre — Capt. Lanneau, Brooks Troop, and John 
C. Campbell, Beaufort District Troop. 

CHAPTER XV. 

When the army arrived at Williamsburg, Gen. John- 
ston heard the enemy were attempting to cut us off 
from Richmond by passing up York River in their gun- 
boats and transports, landling at West Point, directly 
between Williamsburg and Richmond. Gen. John- 
ston, with a division or two, went forward! to meet 
them, leaving Gen. Longstreet in command, to confront 
and delay Gen. McClellan. And well he did it, too, 
fighting all the next day (Monday, the 6th May), in a 
pouring rain, and an overwhelming force of the enemy, 
and repulsing every attempt to drive us back. After 
night we fell back, to join Gen. Jo'hnston, who with 
Hood's Texans and other forces had swept the enemy 
out of our way and driven them back to their boats, 
killing and capturing a great many. Col. Hampton, 
with his infantry and artillery, was with Hood, having 
been assigned to Hood's Brigade after the reorganiza- 
tion. We fell back slowly through New Kent C. H. to 
the banks of the Chickahominy River, where we went 
into camp, on the Nine Mile Road. We staid here for 
some weeks, dioing picket duty in our front. It was at 
this camp, some days before the Seven Pines battle, my 

35 



master was sent with a small d'etail of men to report to 
Gen. Hood, at his headquarters. The General, accom- 
panied by his staff and followed by our detachment, 
started out about 4 P. M. and rode up and down the 
entire front of the Federal lines. What he was after, 
I never heard' — it could not have been a reconnoissance 
of the enemy's picket lines. He seemed to be observ- 
ing the ground more than the lines, and strange to say, 
we passed over twice the ground which a few d'ays later 
proved to be the battle-field of Seven Pines. One cir- 
cumstance I diid know and remember now, was that the 
long raw-boned roan horse he rode, kept us all in a trot, 
while he was at a square walk. 

The battle of Seven Pines was a battle with less artil- 
lery used, on both sides, than any battle I was ever in — 
especially on our side ; for the roads were in such a con- 
dition, we could not get our pieces to the battle-field. 
What a scene — the roads for miles, blocked with artil- 
lery and ambulances, mired down over the hubs of the 
wheels in mud and water. And that night, how it 
rained 1 . The thunder rolling, and the lightning flash- 
ing, until after midnight. I remember we were halted 
beside the road, those of us not on vidette duty to rest 
for the nig^ht, the water nearly knee-deep, and worse 
than all, no feed for man or horse. Next morning we 
had another small engagement, our army falling back 
to their former lines and camps. In the first day's 
fight, that gallant soldier, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, was 
seriously wounded. I saw him as he was being borne 
back towards Richmond. I think Gen. Smith suc- 
seeded him in command, after he was wounded. 

In a few days, Gen. Robert E. Lee was put in com- 
mand, and remained in command until the End, April 
9th, 1865. That noble, faithful and fearless soldier, 
towering above all the gallant ones the "Cause" had. 

36 



As the "Soldier Bard," and true and tried friend of 
the Confederate Cause, has so beautifully expressed it 
(Father Ryan) : 

"Out of its scabbard never hand, 

Waved sword from stain as free, 
Nor purer sword, led braver band, 
Nor a braver bled for a brighter land, 
Nor brighter land had a cause so grand, 
Nor cause a chief like Lee." 

CHAPTER XVI. 

Everything was very quiet for some time. The 
Legion cavalry were much disappointed, man and 
horse, at not being detailed to go with Gen. J. E. B. 
Stuart, on his first ride around McClellan's army. 
Well, I can truthfully say, that was the only raid of his, 
of any note, we ever missed participating in. The 
General did not know us then as he did in the future. 

On the 24th or 25th of June, 1862, the Seven Days 
Battle around Richmond commenced, near our old drill 
school, Ashland. Gen. Stonewall Jackson (that name 
so dear and sacred to all who had the honor to fight for 
the "Lost Cause") attacked the enemy's rear at Han- 
over. Then followed days of fighting, watching and 
waiting for the entire army of the enemy to be cap- 
tured. It was a glorious victory, and saved Richmond 
from the invaders' foot, when all hope seemed lost. 
Still we all looked for different results from the battles. 
All of us believe that no other General the Yankees had 
could have saved their army from capture but George 
B. McClellan. 

After the last day's fight at Malvern Hill, the Legion 
cavalry did picket and vidette duty in close proximity 

37 



to Harrison's Landing, on the James River, where Gen. 
McClellan had succeeded in reaching, and was now 
safely under cover, of his gunboats, after sustaining a 
loss of thousands of his men and millions of dollars 
worth of army stores. 

The Legion cavalry during the seven days battles 
were put under the immediate command of Col. Rosser. 
I remember the Colonel wore at that time an artillery 
Captain's jacket and cap, and I think he had been re- 
cently promoted from Captain of Artillery to Colonel of 
Cavalry. We were all pleased with him and considered 
him a good officer, and a righting Colonel, which he 
afterwards proved on many a hard fought field. He 
had with him at that time Pate's Virginia Battalion 
and a part of some other command. 

Soon there was talk of a move, but still we kept in 
front of McClellan, until he made the move. And I 
well remember the Yankee trick they played us, when 
they did make it. I was on the picket line at day-dawn, 
after the night they evacuated, and embarked on their 
boats. We could look right down into their camp (or 
city, for they had in a few days built a regularly laid out 
city, streets and all), and saw as usual their videttes 
with their guns in their hands. But as time passed on, 
some soldier, more observant than his comrades, re- 
marked to the officer commanding, that all the Yankee 
videttes were stationary, instead of walking their beats, 
as usual. So the officer ordered an advance, to see 
what it meant. And were we not nicely sold, for on 
advancing, we found not men, but stuffed figures of 
men with guns attached to them. The entire army had 
embarked on their boats during the darkness of night. 
We entered their camp, and I have never seen such an- 
other. As I have said, a regular laid out city; the 
streets even had their names attached. But the worst 



fool we had was about an immense pile of corn and oats 
(looked like over a thousand bushels), which when we 
came to examine and of course appropriate all we could 
carry off, we found, to our sorrow, they were well 
mixed with charcoal and other things, to prevent their 
being of any use to us. Well, I know the men did not 
bless them for it, and I would have been glad to help 
them curse the Yankees myself. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

A few days afterwards we left here and followed our 
army to Hanover C. H., and here my master was taken 
down sick with mumps, contracting a very severe cold 
from exposure. He was allowed to return to Rich- 
mond, to the Howard Grove Hospital, in charge of Dr. 
Charles Rice, of Colleton, S. C. My master's brother 
was one of the assistant Surgeons. Here we lived on 
the best for some weeks, for of course I was in the hos- 
pital stable. We left Ben and the pony in camp. My 
master got a furlough here to go home for thirty days. 
Before leaving for South Carolina, he came around to 
the hospital stable where I was quartered, with the 
surgeons' horses, and putting his arms around my neck 
said, "Arab, old boy, I am going home on sick fur- 
lough, I only wish I could carry you with me, but you 
know that is impossible. You have been more than 
faithful to me, and have carried me through dangers 
that I don't believe any other horse living could do, and 
I will take great pleasure in telling all the loved ones at 
home what a noble animal and true friend you have 
proved to me. For I know that, after myself, they 
would rather see or hear of you than any one else. 
Make yourself satisfied and get fat by the time I return, 

89 



for there is hard work and hard times, too, before us." 
I would have liked to have given him long messages to 
the loved ones at home, but he could not understand me 
as I could him — that is, my talk. But I believe, and 
always will believe, that he could understand 1 every look 
and motion I made. At the expiration of twenty-one 
days (for I counted every day), one night my master 
walked in the stable, and after hugging and kissing me, 
said, "Arab, you look surprised to see me back before 
my thirty days have expired ; but I know you are not, if 
you have heard what I have, and that is, that the Army 
of Northern Virginia is in Pennsylvania. I long to be 
with them once more, and I know you feel the same. 
We will start in the morning, and find them soon. All 
asked about you at home, and were never tired hearing 
me recount your deeds of daring." 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

Bright and early next day, we bade adieu to our 
friends at Howard Grove and left Richmond by the 
Brook Road. We reached Goldensville about sun-set, 
a distance of forty-five miles, spent the night with a 
family of Dickinsons. The next night we stayed in 
Fredericksburg, and the next at 'Culpeper C. H. 
We had been traveling thus far, old familiar roads. 
When we left the last named place, we entered a strange 
country to us. New scenes and new faces. The fourth 
night we staid at Little Washington, and from there we 
passed through the Luray valley, and entered the Valley 
of Virginia. What a beautiful rich country this was 
at that stage of the war. It is appropriately called 
"The garden spot of Virginia." I think it should' be 
called "The garden spot of the world" — I have never 

40 



seen anything to compare to it, much less equal it. 
From the summit of the Blue Ridge Mountains, as far 
as the eye can see, is this beautiful valley. Hundreds 
of head of cattle and other stock grazed on the luxuri- 
ant pasturage, on each side of the broad turnpike ; large 
flour mills and splendid residences greeted 1 your sight, 
mile after mile along the road. My master thought of 
stopping at Winchester for the night, but heard when 
we reached there, that our command was at Martins- 
burg ; so we passed through after a good feed, and then 
passing through Bunker Hill and Darksville, arrived 
late that night at Martiusburg. Here we found tlie 
command, and glad indeed it seemed to be back with 
them once more. Much to my sorrow (and I know my 
master's), we heard that Ben and the pony had been 
captured, for the Yankees had captured part of our 
wagon train in Maryland, and nearly every servant in 
the Beaufort District Troop. 

We lost from the company on this first invasion of 
the enemy's country one among our bravest and most 
efficient officers, Lieut. Wilson W. Broughton, of 
Grahamville, S. C. He was severely wounded in the 
knee, in a charge in the streets of Frederick City, Md. 
He was so badly wounded that he had to be left at a 
private residence near the city. With him was left a 
nurse, one among the best men in the company, Private 
Sam Heape. Heape, after his exchange, in giving an 
account of the brave Lieutenant's death, said, that 
"After they were captured, the Yankee surgeon told 
Lieut. Broughton, the only chance for your life is to 
have your leg amputated. The Lieutenant's reply was, 
'If I die, I will die with my leg on me.' ' 



41 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The command remained at Martinsburg several 
months, having previously been raised to a regiment. 
Maj. M. C. Butler, was appointed Colonel ; Capt. Frank 
Hampton, Lieutenant Colonel ; Capt. T. J. Lipscomb, 
Major. The regiment was called the 2d South Caro- 
lina Cavalry. Capt. Hampton (the General's brother) 
and Capt. Lipscomb had come on from South Carolina 
bringing with them four or five companies of cavalry, 
and with these new companies and the dashing Boykin 
Rangers, Capt. John Chestnut, the old Legion cavalry, 
was raised to a regiment. Col. Wade Hampton had 
been made Brigadier General of cavalry. His first 
brigade was composed of the following regiments : 
Cobb Legion, Col. P. M. B. Young; Jeff. Davis Legion, 
Col. Fred. Warring; Phillips Legion, Col. Wright (all 
three from Georgia) ; 1st North Carolina regiment, 
Col. Baker; 1st South Carolina, Col. Black; and last 
but not least, 2d South Carolina, Col. M. C. Butler. 
Gallant old brigade, each regiment was equal to a 
brigade. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart was our Division Com- 
mander. W. H. F. Lee and Fitzhugfa Lee's Brigade, 
with Hampton's, composed Gen. Jeb Stuart's Division, 
at that time. 

We did picket duty for miles and miles up and down 
the Potomac River, our farthest post being Hard 
Scrabble. I saw the largest apple orchard here that I 
ever saw in Virginia, and I had gotten to like them very 
much. While encamped here the vacancy for Lieuten- 
ant was filled by election. Our worthy and brave 2d 
Sergeant, A. M. Ruth, was elected 3d Lieutenant Beau- 
fort District Troop. The picket posts were such a dis- 
tance from camp, we would remain on picket forty- 
eight hours. We had just returned from one of these 

42 



long tours of duty, and were contemplating a good rest 
(at least, I was), when Orderly Sergeant T. E. Bessel- 
lieu walked up and told my master he was detailed as 
non-commissioned officer from the company to report 
to General Stuart that afternoon, at 3.30, with 
a detachment from Co. B (formerly Beaufort District 
Troop). My master was "sure enough mad," and I 
heard him tell the Sergeant very plainly, that the reason 
why they wanted him to do all the duty of the non-com- 
missioned officers, was because he tried to take care of 
his horse. But he was detailed, and we had to get 
ready. He said to me that night, on the banks of the 
Potomac, as he gave me my feed, "Arab, if I had of 
known it was a scout we were going on, I would have 
said nothing." 

CHAPTER XX. 

About 2 P. M., the detachment from the 2d South 
Carolina Cavalry were ordered to fall in, and to my sur- 
prise it was a pretty large one. From Co. B there was 
Capt. Screven, Lieut. Ruth, Sergt. Mickler, Privates 
Beck, Clifton, Campbell, Boynton, Terry and my mas- 
ter. We marched to a ford on the Potomac, about eight 
miles from Martinsburg, where we found and reported 
to Generals Stuart and Hampton. Gen. Hampton had 
detachments from every regiment of his brigade, in all 
a force of 1,500 men, also three pieces of Hart's bat- 
tery, which was attached to his brigade (this was the 
old Legion artillery, and Capt. Hart was the officer 
who succeeded Stephen D. Lee, and time proved him a 
worthy successor). We went into camp near the 
river. The men were ordered to keep very quiet, and 
not allowed to light fires, as they had been ordered to 
bring three days' cooked rations. 

43 



The men were awakened about 2 A. M., and ordered 
to saddle-up and fall-in, as quietly as possible. After 
the command had been formed, my master was ordered 
to report to Capt. Cole, 1st North Carolina Cavalry. 
We found him not far off, talking with Gen. Stuart; 
we also found out we were to be the advance guard. 
Just at the first streak of day, we dashed into the river, 
crossed, and captured the videttes on the advance 
picket post, and then charged the reserve, capturing 
every man. The advance guard was then given orders 
to proeeed, taking certain roads leading to Chambers- 
burg, via Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. We passed 
through several villages in Maryland and struck the 
Pennsylvania line about 4 P. M., passed' through 
Mercersburg, and arrived in sight of Chambersburg 
about sun-set, without seeing or encountering any or- 
ganized force of the enemy. After a short parley, the 
Home Guard surrendered the city. We "Rebs.," as 
they called us, marched in, and remained dlrawn up on 
the streets for a s'hort while. Were then ordered to 
the woods on the north of the city, and went into camp. 
Need I say how frightened the people seemed to be. 
The storekeepers and barkeeper, I heard, did 1 not seem 
to want pay for their goods. It was "Help yourself to 
what you want." But they seemed to pretty well get 
over their scare by morning, and asked pay for every- 
thing called for, if it was in Confederate money. 

Next morning at earliest dawn the bugle blew 
reveille, we horses were fed and soon saddled up, and 
then marched up to Main street, where the principal 
warehouses were situated, near the railroad depot — 
though half the place seemed a railroad depot. I don't 
know where they came from, or went to ; but if rail- 
roads make business, this ought to be a prosperous 



44 



place. I forgot to mention that Gen. Hampton had 
been appointed Provost Marshal of the city. 

The depot and warehouses were now thrown open 
to the men, and they were ordered to dismount and 
help themselves. There were things to eat and to 
wear, and arms of every sort and description, thou- 
sands of boxes of them. I know the men had a good 
time. I remember wishing, for the first time in my 
life, that I was a man. W'hen the men got through, 
or rather when they were ordered to mount their 
horses (for I candidly believe some of them would 
have been there yet, if it had been left to them), the 
government warehouses were then set on fire, guard 
and details being stationed to keep the fire from injur- 
ing private property. 

When the danger of the city taking fire had passed, 
we started, and for four days and nights we never 
halted, except "to bait" us horses and to repair a 
bridge. The men eat their rations as they rode along. 
The saddles were never taken off our backs from the 
day we left Chambersburg, Perm., until we reached 
Leesburg, Va. My master was Sergeant of Uhe rear 
guard returning, Capt. MacFie, Co. K, Congaree 
Troop, commanding. The sights and incidents of 
that trip will never be forgotten by me, as long as my 
name is Arab. We had very little fighting, none to 
speak of, until we reached the fords on the Potomac, 
opposite Leesburg, Va., to cross back into Virginia, 
and enter the Confederate lines. 

Gen. Stuart's object on this raid was more for the 
purpose of procuring horses than for getting informa- 
tion in regard to the enemy. Gen. Lee was at this time 
very short of artillery horses. We brought back, as 
the fruits of this raid, seven hundred and fifty fine fat 
horses, besides the arms of the most approved make, 

45 



clothing, etc., procured at Chambersburg, and the de- 
struction of thousands of dollars worth of property 
consumed there, without the loss of a single man. We 
ourselves were all surprised, and wondered at the 
enemy not pursuing and harassing us, as well as cut- 
ting us off from crossing the ford's on the Potomac — 
the only way of getting back in our lines. But I ex- 
pect it was true, what I heard one of them tell a 
Southern soldier (months afterwards). He said, 
"We did not know where to look for you, where you 
were going, or what you were after, and you moved so 
fast we could not catch up with you.' , 

The second day after we left Chambersburg one of 
my shoes came off and another was loose; my master 
asked permission of Capt. MacFie (commanding rear 
guard) to get me shod. The Captain referred him to 
Gen. Hampton; so he rode forward, and asked the 
General; Gen. Hampton told him to take a detail of 
five men and try and find a blacksmith shop. "But," 
said the General, "look out, you are not cut off, for the 
enemy must be in close pursuit of us by this time." We 
got the detail, and took the direction of a little hamlet, 
on the left of the turnpike. Before we reached it, he 
stopped me at a small house, and called the owner out ; 
when he came, my master drew his pistol from the hol- 
ster and presenting it at his head, said, "I want my 
horse shod 1 ; tell me quickly where I can find a black- 
smith." The man said, "Spare my life, and I will 
take you to a shop in ten minutes." He started in a 
trot towards the hamlet I spoke of, and as we came to 
the shop, the smith was locking the door, preparatory 
to leaving. In ten minutes the Yankee smith was nail- 
ing on my shoes, my master sitting on a block in front 
of him covering him with his "Colt's army." Those 
were the quickest shoes I ever had put on, for he put 

46 



on two and tightened the others. The detail mean- 
while on post on the hill. After I was shod (and I tell 
you I felt relieved, for my feet were getting sore), my 
master handed the smith twenty dollars in Confederate 
money, and we left. The last I saw of that smith, he 
was looking at that twenty dollar bill. We now joined 
the rear guard again. Still no enemy in sight. All 
night we were moving on — no rest, no sleep. Just 
after daylight, we were sent forward with a message 
to Gen. Hampton. On our way, we met a soldier 
from one of the regiments of the brigade, riding Moses 
Boynton' s horse, a fine sorrel, which we recognized at 
once. The soldier would not give the horse up, until 
the matter was reported to Gen. Hampton, who com- 
pelled him to turn him over to my master, who led him 
back to find Co. B, and his owner, who we knew was 
very proud of his fine sorrel. But Moses Boynton 
could not be found, and no one in Co. B could tell any- 
thing of him. The horse was turned over to the com- 
pany, and we returned to the rear guard. Still no 
enemy in sight. About 9 or 10 o'clock, we saw a 
horseman in our rear, coming at top speed. We halted, 
and when the horseman got near enough, to our sur- 
prise it proved to be Moses Boynton, riding "bare- 
back" an old Pennsylvania plough horse. His story 
was this: 

"The column stopped while a bridge was being re- 
paired, the artillery had broken in. I felt I was 
obliged to have a few minutes sleep. I dropped down 
from my horse, wrapped the bridle reins around my 
arm, and went to sleep. I thought when the column 
started I would wake. When I did wake, I was alone ; 
not even a sound of man or horse could I hear. I did 
not know which end of the road to take. I would run 
in one direction and then the other. I had no matches 

47 



to strike a light. Finally, I thought of this plan : I 
knelt down and felt the horses' tracks — that gave me 
the direction you had taken. I started at a trot after 
you, and had followed you about a mile, when I saw a 
light in a small house near the road. I knocked, and 
a man opened the door. He said the force had passed 
several hours. I told him I must have a horse ; he said 
he had none. Just then I heard a horse stamping in 
the cellar below us. I drew my pistol, grabbed the 
lamp, and went down in the cellar. Here is the horse 
I found, and this the blind bridle. I did not take time 
to ask for a saddle, for the old man, the old woman, 
and two daughters, were abusing me for all they could 
think of. I am very glad you found old Jim, for I 
would not give him for five of the best horses in the 
Yankee army." 

On the morning of the fourth day after we left 
Chambersburg, Penn., we arrived in sight of the Po- 
tomac. But found a heavy force of infantry and 
artillery holding the ford where we expected to cross. 
But Gen. Stuart was equal to the emergency. He 
stopped the command, sent forward the artillery and 
part of the cavalry to the front, facing the enemy at 
the ford, sent the captured horses back next to the rear 
guard, under a special detail of a tried officer and 
picked men, with orders to the officer, that as soon as 
the scouts sent out reported the ford to our left clear of 
the enemy, he must cross the river with the captured 
horses, and then notify him, Gen. Stuart. The artil- 
lery opened fire in a few minutes on the enemy in our 
immediate front; also part of the cavalry dismounted, 
with their rifles, advancing "step by step" on the force 
holding the ford. This gave them more than they ex- 
pected to contend with, and thinking Gen. Stuart 
intended to cross at all hazards, they drew their forces 

48 



from the fords above and below them, to assist them to 
hold the position. This was just what Gen. Stuart 
hoped and expected. The scouts notified the officer in 
command of the captured horses that the ford was open, 
and the horses were rushed across. Then Gen. Stuart 
was notified of the fact; he immediately drew off his 
fighting force, and coming back to the road the horse 
detail had taken, crossed his men over safely. Now it 
came our turn to move; for the rear guard had been 
stationary, looking and- expecting a force from the 
rear; and if so, that was to have been our work; but 
there was no pursuit. We now followed the General 
and his force and soon came to the ford. Hardly had 
we gotten half way across, when the Yankees found 
out how Gen. Stuart had fooled tihem, and here they 
came at a double-quick step back to the ford. They 
soon opened fire on us, but luckily no one was hurt. 
Only you ought to have seen us, how speedily we 
crossed that ford. When I got safely on the Virginia 
side, I looked back and the Maryland shore was one 
mass of blue-coats. I had been repeating to myself 
ever since I entered the river, the old negro melody, 
"Carry me back, carry me back, to old Virginia shore/' 
and I added this to it, "Carry me back quick." 

In two hours after getting safely across, the whole 
command was asleep ; for we had gone into camp at 
Leesburg, to get some rest — man nor horse wanted 
anything but sleep. That was one time we did not 
stop to eat. I said the whole were asleep. But there 
was one exception, that was Gen. Jeb. Stuart, who get- 
ting a fresh horse, set out alone and riding all night, 
reached Gen. R. E. Lee early next morning, whose 
headquarters was near Winchester, south of our old 
camp at Martinsburg. 

In a couple of days we were back in our quarters at 

49 



Martinsburg. This raid, every one says, was the most 
daring and successful ever made by that brave, dashing 
and lamented officer, Gen. J. E. B. Stuart. He made a 
complete circuit around the Federal army, crossing the 
Potomac River nearly at its highest point, and recross- 
ing in sight of Washington City, hundreds of miles 
below, destroying thousands of dollars worth of gov- 
ernment property, and as I have before stated, bring- 
ing out seven hundred and fifty head of fat 'horses, 
sadly needed by the army of Northern Virginia. 

I saw one old white-haired man I felt extremely 
sorry for, on this raid. He was standing beside the 
road, with his spectacles drooped down on his nose and 
his mouth open, with his saddle on his arm and his 
bridle in his hand, as he gazed steadfastly at the pass- 
ing column. But where was his noble steed? Ask of 
the winds and perhaps they will tell you, taken by 
Stuart and Hampton's raiders, to fill up Gen. R. E. 
Lee's artillery. 

I remember hearing a little Yankee boy we passed, 
say something that was never forgotten by the men of 
our command. A member of Co. B said to the boy, 
"Say, sonny, are you a Secesh?" The boy burst out 
laughing (for he had got over his first scare at the 
sight of us) and said, "Nari Pop." To the close of 
the war you would hear, when any of the old soldiers 
wanted to be extra positive, "Nari Pop." 



50 



CHAPTER XXI. 

A few days after our return from this raid, just 
after reveille, Ben rode into camp. His first words to 
my master were, "Boss, dem deblish Yankee tak the 
pony, an' all your close I had ; but I got a right good 
mare here, if she is blind in one eye. I been trying a 
long time to get back to you, but they watch me so 
close, I could not get away, until day before yester- 
day." 'My master and every one of the company and 
regiment seemed glad to see Ben back from his cap- 
tivity. I will not attempt to say how glad I was to see 
him, for no one could groom me like Ben, and he never 
seemed tired of feeding me. It did not matter whether 
the quartermaster or commissary had corn or hay or 
not; if any of our officers or men had any, Ben would 
steal a part of it for me; if none were to be stolen in 
the regiment, he would make a raid on the farms. As 
1 have before said, he had taught me to eat any and 
everything that a man would eat. I remember once, 
when forage was very scare, he had been out raiding 
on some of the farmers on the Rapidan River. On his 
return to camp, I saw he had only a few bundles of 
oats tied behind his saddle, but several canteens hang- 
ing around his neck. He rode up, and getting off his 
horse, said to me, "Arab, I is had bad' luck to-day ; dis 
country is eat out. I got you a few sheaf of oats an' a 
canteen of clabber. De clabber aint as good as whis- 
key, but it is better than nuttin." 

Soon Gen. McClellan attempted to cut Gen. Lee off 
from Richmond, but he was not general enough to do 
so. Every fresh move he would make to cut off com- 
munications our army would face him. The cavalry 
and horse artillery fighting him day after day, as we 
fell back. We had engagements at Berryville, Flint 

51 



Hill, Barber's Cross Roads, Little Washington — the 
latter in a heavy snow-storm. At this place, my mas- 
ter and myself came very near being captured. He 
had been sent by Col. Butler with a message to Gen. 
Hampton. He put me to my speed, and we went 
dashing back to where we had left Gen. Hampton, 
some short time ago, sitting on his horse in front of the 
ist North Carolina Cavalry. As we dashed down the 
hill towards this body of men, who we supposed were 
the ist North Carolina, we heard shouting and calling 
in our rear. I even heard the words, "Come back, 
come back — the Yankees are down there;" but my 
master did not hear, and kept putting in the spur. I 
got so close, that I could smell them, for I had really 
learnt to know them by their smell, as well as their blue 
uniform. There was an officer sitting on his horse in 
front of the regiment with a full black beard, as Gen. 
Hampton wore at that time; he wore black hat and 
plume, and did really look like the General, horse and 
all. When my master discovered his mistake, all he 
had to do was to wheel me to the right about, and we 
went up that 'hill faster than we came down, several of 
the enemy pursuing, for they were certain of catching 
us, and they did not shoot until we had nearly reached 
the top of the hill. I suppose those shots caused my 
master to press closer those big Texas spurs he wore 
to my aching sides. When we got up the hill, among 
our skirmishers, we found out what the shouting was 
that I had heard. Sergt. Mickler and Corp. Pelot, 
from our company, were on the skirmish line and 
recognizing us, and being aware that the enemy was 
drawn up on the same ground occupied by the ist 
North Carolina a short time before, tried very hard, as 
they said, to warn us of the fact. 



52 



CHAPTER XXII. 

A rather strange incident happened at this Barber's 
Cross Road fight, which I will try and 1 relate : We had 
been falling back before a heavy force of the enemy 
since about n A. M., disputing every inch of ground, 
and making charge after charge upon them, Gen. 
Hampton, as usual, leading every charge, and Hart's 
battery giving them grape and canister as well as 
shells. Suddenly there was a cessation of firing from 
both sides — the enemy halting and we doing the same. 
To see what would be the next move, I suppose, we re- 
mained facing each other for over an hour; and I 
expect a great many, like myself, were hoping they 
were going "to quit their foolishness," when all at once 
an old hare or rabbit started up from his lair and took 
a course directly between the two opposing lines. Of 
course, you have heard that a soldier can't see a rabbit 
without yelling after him. Well, the yelling com- 
menced, both sides taking it up, and seemed to be try- 
ing to see who could yell the loudest. Well, now, just 
think of it, and imagine my disgust, to find out that in 
ten minutes after the yelling started, we were fighting 
harder than ever, only we were driving them this time. 

One more incident of the Barber's Cross Roadl fight 
I will relate before I close. While the enemy were 
driving us back in the morning, our regiment had 1 just 
made a charge to save one of the pieces of Hart's bat- 
tery from being captured. Wbile crossing a low 
muddly piece of ground, Private Eldred Simkins' (of 
our company) horse was shot dead under him. The 
enemy were in close pursuit of us, and Simkins, unable 
to extricate himself from the dead horse, was about to 
be captured, when Sergt. W. A. Mickler dashed back 
to his rescue, and springing from his horse, extricated 

53 



Simkins from his, then taking him up behind him on 
his grey, brought him safely off in the very face of the 
Federals. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

We finally fell back to Fredericksburg. Gen. Lee's 
entire army encamped on the south of the Rappahan- 
nock River, and Burnside's army faced us on the 
North side of the river. Here our regiment was en- 
camped in the "old" city," a few hundred yards from 
the tomb of Martha Washington, the mother of the 
great Gen. George Washington, of Revolutionary 
fame. We did picket duty for miles and 1 miles up and 
down the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. The 
infantry and artillery of Lee's army was at this time, 
about the ist of December, 1862, encamped in our 
rear, in the woods, on the crest of hills along the Mas- 
saponax, south of Fredericksburg. Every one was 
looking for a fight, and I will tell you why. Stone- 
wall Jackson had just arrived from the Shenandoah 
Valley, and gone into camp on the Massaponax. Jack- 
son's coming always meant fight. Stonewall's fight 
always meant victory. We had not forgotten his 
coming to us, not long ago, when he struck the enemy's 
flank at Mec'hanicsville, and opened and decided the 
Seven Days Battles. Sure enough, a few days after 
Gen. Jackson joined Lee's army, our regiment left the 
town and encamped at Hamilton's Crossing, south of 
it. We left a few regiiments of infantry in possession 
of the place. Our infantry and artillery moved down 
from the hills and took position just south of the town. 
Longstreet's forces were assigned to Marye's Hill, 
Jackson's forces on his right, near Hamilton's Cross- 

54 



ing. About the ioth or 12th of December, Burn- 
side's army crossed over from Falmouth by pontoons, 
in the face of Barksdale's gallant Mississipians, who 
had been left to hold the town. Barksdale's men were 
concealed on the river front, sheltered by the houses ; 
but, as I have said, in spite of the murderous fire of the 
riflemen, they succeeded in crossing. They shelled the 
old town from the Falmouth Heights half the day, and 
it was a pitiable sight to see the old: men and women, 
the young women and children, of all ages, passing us, 
going further to the rear to escape the bursting shells 
and the burning town. Gen. Lee's army remained 
quiet the whole day, prepared for what was sure to 
come on the morrow. The Federals remained in the 
town all night. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

The enemy hardly waited for the day to dawn before 
they were moving on our lines. I well remamber the 
heavy fog that morning. In fact, you could hardly see 
ten yards 'before you, until the sun rose. Then what 
a grant sight to see, that splendid-looking body of men, 
who, although our enemies, we were obliged to admire. 
The guns flashing in the sunlight and the stars and 
stipes proudly floating to the breeze, and the men mov- 
ing as if on parade. The battle opened soon after 
sun-rise. They struck old Stonewall first, and it 
looked 1 like they thought they were going to run right 
over him. But he soon showed them different from 
that. I believe they did break his first line, but that 
only made him mad and they never broke any more 
lines of Stonewall Jackson that day. In the woods 
back of the crossing our cavalry were drawn up; 

55 



directly in our front in a large and extensive field, Gen. 
Jeb. Stuart, our division commander, was pouring snot 
and shell into the advancing Federals, with Pelham's 
horse artillery. This 'brave and gallant young Ala- 
bamian I had seen and known for some time, since we 
had been placed under Gen. Stuart's command. The 
soldiers at the first used to call Pelham, "Stuart's 
Pretty Boy," and boy-like he looked when I first saw. 
him. But, oh ! could he not fight that old horse artil- 
lery of Stuart's. How he did hate to retreat. Well 
do I remember that fact, as well as every man and 
horse in Hampton's Brigade had found out, when we 
were supporting his pieces. 

Every school-boy knows how the 'battle of Fred- 
ericksburg terminated, and what a glorious victory it 
was for the Southern Cause. And as I am not writ- 
ing a 'history, I will proceed with the "Autobiography 
of Arab." After the battle, Lee's army went regu- 
larly into winter quarters — that is, the infantry and 
artillery — of course, the cavalry had to do all the out- 
post duty, and winter quarters was only a name for 
us. I will never forget the winter of 1862, from this 
fact, that it was the only winter of the war that all 
branches of Lee's army were together. I could write 
(and talk, if able,) for days o'f the different sights and 
scenes I saw from December to last of April, 1862. 

Stonewall Jackson's headquarters below Fredericks- 
burg, at Moss Neck; Jeb. Stuart's headquarters on 
the Telegraph Rroad, near the town; and last, but 
always first, the headquarters of R. E. Lee near by, 
presented daily scenes and faces never to be forgotten. 
One day I would see Gen. Lee's dlaughter passing; the 
next, Gen. Jackson's wife and daughter; the next, per- 
haps, Gen. Jeb Stuart's wife and little daughter; the 
next, perhaps, the wife or child of some other general 

56 



of note — for a great many of them had 1 their families 
visiting them the winter of 1862. I remember a rather 
strange incident that occurred here during the winter. 
After a very heavy snow-storm, a Tennessee regiment 
and another regiment, I forget now from what State, 
commenced 1 a snow J ball fight. After some little time, 
one getting the advantage and then the other, both 
sides got so worked up and incensed over it, that they 
got their rifles and a part of the army had to be called 
out to quiet them. 



CHAPTER XXV. 

So the winter passed on, until some time in March. 
Gen. Averill, in command of the Federal cavalry, made 
a reconnoissance, with a large force(4,ooo men), cross- 
ing the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford. The gallant Fitz 
Lee met him with his brigade numbering about 800 or 
900 men, and after a desperate battle, from sun to sun, 
drove him back to the north side of the river. In one 
of these dashing charges (perhaps the last), led by 
Gen. Jeb Stuart and Fitz Lee, was killed the brave 
young soldier, dubbed by Gen. R. E. Lee at the battle 
of Fredericksburg, "The Gallant Pelham." After this 
fight at Kelly's Ford, the enemy remained quiet until 
about the 1st of May, when "Fighting Joe Hooker," 
now in command of the Federal army, crossed the 
Rappahannock and moved towards the Rapidan, in the 
direction of Chancellorsville. Our brigade accompa- 
nied Gen. Stonewall Jackson towards the latter place, 
leaving Gen. Lee still at Fredericksburg. Gen. Jack- 
son halted near Tabernacle Church, for Hooker had 
crossed the Rapidan at Germania Ford and was mov- 
ing in that direction. Gen. Jeb. Stuart was after 

57 



Stonaman, who was trying to make a raid on the Vir- 
ginia Central Railroad. He had the brigades of the 
two Lees with him. Gen. Jackson formed his line of 
battle near Tabernacle Church, across the plank road 
that runs from Fredericksburg to Culpeper C. H., 
through what was called the Wilderness — and a wil- 
derness it surely was. It was rendered famous in 
1864, by the great battle fought there. Gen. Jackson, 
I suppose, found out he could accomplish nothing by 
attacking Hooker in his strong fortifications at Chan- 
cellorsville with his single corps, so he gave up the 
attempt, and waited quietly for Gen. R. E. Lee. We, 
the cavalry, were doing picket and outpost duty. I 
will now relate an incident that occurred while here. 
Gen. Stuart had just returned to the army, after send- 
ing Gen. Stoneman "back faster than he came." This 
morning the General and his staff were passing our 
regiment which was drawn up close beside the plank 
road. Just as they got opposite to us, one of the staff 
officers halted for a moment, and then riding up to my 
master, said: "Is not your name Henderson?" My 
master replied that it was. He then said, "Don't you 
remember me?" The reply was "No." The officer 
then said, "Did you not go to school at Wofford to Mr. 
Boyd?" The answer was "Yes." "Well," he said, 
"I am a brother-in-law of Mr. Boyd, and on one occa- 
sion, he being sick, taught your class." My master 
then said, "I remember you now — your name is Far- 
ley." They then shook hands very cordially. I had 
often heard the men speak of "Farley, the Scout, from 
South Carolina." That was one reason I listened and 
noticed him so closely, for I have always loved to see 
and hear of brave men and horses. 

Gen. R. E. Lee arrived that day from Fredericks- 
burg and I heard afterwards from good authority that 



he held a long consultation with Gen. Stonewall Jack- 
son, and it is credited by those who ought to knozv, 
that, then and there, Stonewall Jackson suggested the 
attempt to flank and turn the right wing of Hooker's 
army. 

CHAPTER XXVI. 

Things were looking pretty serious about this time. 
Gen. R. E. Lee's force at this critical time was small 
indeed. Gen. Longstreet's hard fighting corps had 
been sent to Suffolk, Va., and I heard that a pretty 
large force had been left to hold Fredericksburg. The 
next day, while on picket on the Brock Road, leading 
from Spottsylvania C. H. to Ely's Ford, we had just 
been relieved and were returning to the command, 
when just as we reached the intersection of the Ger- 
mania Plank Road, we met Stonewall Jackson's corps, 
accompanied by Gen. Fitz Lee's brigade of cavalry. I 
heard the men remarking, "Where is old Stonewall 
going?" Some surmised one place and some another. 
I with my horse sense surmised Fredericksburg, for 
they were going in that direction. One of the men (I 
forget who) said, "Wait and see, Old Jack is just as 
apt to be in Hooker's rear by sun-down, as not." And 
sure enough he was talking sense, for every one knows 
how the great soldier flanked Hooker's army, and if 
that fatal wounding (which resulted in his death) had 
not have occurred, Hooker's whole army would have 
been captured. In my humble horse opinion, the 
Southern Confederacy, in the death of Stonewall Jack- 
son, sustained a loss which could not be filled — a loss 
second only to the loss of Robert E. Lee. I heard that 
the great chieftain once said, in reply to some one 
speaking of the Southern people losing aix in the 
event of their being conquered. 

59 



"Losing all. No," he said. "Suppose we are con- 
quered — suppose the South does fail to establish her 
independence — I declare to you that s'hould I live, I 
will not regret for one instant this struggle — not the 
blood, the treasure, the failure — nothing. There may 
be persons who fight for fame, or success. I fight for 
my principles. I appeal to God for the purity of my 
motives, and whether I live or die, whether the South 
fails or conquers, I shall be able to say, / did my duty." 

Sleep in peace, gallant Virginian, in the soil you 
loved so well. You died the death you wished, and 
have gone where the brave and true find their reward. 
The South will always mourn the death of Stonewall 
Jackson, whose very name was worth an army corps 
to the Southern Confederacy. After the wounding of 
Stonewall Jackson, Gen. Jeb. Stuart (by Gen. Jackson's 
special request) the next day, led Jackson's corps in the 
fight against "Fighting Joe Hooker's" flank and rear, 
with Gen. R. E. Lee attacking him in front, and they 
certainly made "Fighting Joe" get out of that Wilder- 
ness in a hurry, with all of his fortifications and 
150,000 men. 



CHARTED XXVII. 

The next day we gained possession of Chancellors- 
ville, and there is no telling what would have been ac- 
complished when Gen. R. E. Lee was notified that the 
Federal General Sedgwick had crossed the Rappahan- 
nock, driven our forces out and taken possession of 
Fredericksburg, and was then in his rear. Gen. Lee 
immediately turned back and hurried to meet him, and 
by severe fighting that afternoon, drove Sedgwick's 
army across the river. He then hurried back to settle 

60 



with Hooker, but "Fighting Joe" "had left"— be had 
received enough, and more than enough, to satisfy him. 
We remained around Chancellorsville only a few days 
after the battle. By the way, the little place did not 
look like it did when I first saw it — for I had passed 
through it early in the fall, bearing my owner from 
Culpeper C. H. to Fredericksburg, where the regiment 
was encamped. I remember we spent the night there, 
and staid at the widow Chancellor's house, as well as I 
remember there was only two houses in Chancellors- 
ville — Levi Chancellor's house and; the house of the 
widbw where we put up ; and I don't forget how well 
we were treated — speaking for myself, "I was up to my 
eyes in clover and oats." 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 

The regiment from here went to Brandy Station, on 
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, where we en- 
camped. We then enjoyed a little rest, with the ex- 
ception of picket duty. I remember Hampton's brig- 
ade was encamped pretty close together here, and we 
had daily drills by regiments, on these beautiful and 
extensive plains. Our Colonel, M. C. Butler, would 
take us out in the morning, drill us awhile, and then 
start out to look for a rail fence, to make us horses 
jump. Many were the laughable scenes that occurred, 
leaping those fences. For I must tell you, all the 
horses could not jump like Arab. No one seemed to 
enjoy the falls of the men and horses as much as our 
gallant Colonel, and it seemed "to do him good all 
over" by the way he laughed over them. 

My master was here detailed as a scout, under Sergt. 
W. A. Mickler, zvho commanded the first scouting 

61 



party Gen. Hampton ever sent out. The Sergeant's 
first party consisted of only five men; but about the 
time we joined him, his force had been increased by de- 
tails from each company in the regiment to about seven- 
teen, or perhaps nineteen men. I will try and name 
them if my memory serves me aright : From Co. B 
(Beaufort District Troop), Corp. Huger Mickler, Pri- 
vates Joe. Beck, Cecil Johnson, Stanyarn Shoolbread, 
Sergt. E. P. Henderson; Co. A (Boykin Rangers), 
Corp. James Doolin; Co. I (Edgefield Hussars), Ser- 
geant Tom Butler and Marion Shirrer, privates Barney 
Hennegan, George Crafton, Hogan; Co. K (Brooks 
Troop), Sergt. Calhoun Sparks; Privates John Wil- 
lingham and Sim. Miller. All, with the exception of 
Doolin (a Virginia recruit), old members of the 
Hampton Legion Cavalry. In addition to the men 
from the 2d South Carolina Cavalry, Mickler had Pri- 
vate Wallace Miller, 1st South Carolina Cavalry, and 1 
Privates Hanly, Sloan and Parks, 1st North Carolina 
Cavalry. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 

Our principal scouting ground was in Prince Wil- 
liam County. Sergt. Mickler's headquarters was near 
Brentsville, at the house of Mr. Cooper, who occupied 
the old Towles mansion ; and, by the way, a son of Mr. 
Towles, Bob, a member of the Prince William Cavalry, 
4th Virginia regiment, with two others from the same 
command, Dick and Joe. Sheppard, all three regular 
scouts for Gen. Fitz Lee, voluntarily attached them- 
selves to Mickler's little band. Now, though I am an 
educated horse, how can I begin to recount and describe 
the different skirmishes, hair-breadth escapes from cap- 

62 



ture, and incidents that took place, day after day, in 
this our new adventurous, but glorious scouting life. I 
have forgotten two-thirds of the incidents and escapes 
from death or capture, that would make a civilian open 
his eyes in wonder, in these days of peace and quiet. 

Our first little incident worth relating, took place in 
the streets (or rather street, for there was only one 
then,) of Brentsville. The Yankees would come there 
on a scout, two or three times a week. Finally, on one 
occasion, Mickler, with only five men with him, while 
passing in sight of the place, saw some eight or ten 
Yankees sitting on their horses in front of the hotel. 
Mickler, by concealing himself and men under cover of 
the pines, managed to get within a hundred or two 
yards of them before he was seen. Making a dashing 
charge on them, he killed five and captured the other 
three, in the running fight that ensued. Both Mickler 
and Shoolbread claimed killing the Yankee Sergeant in 
command of the squad (his name was Redmond, we 
heard from the prisoners). I remember Mickler got 
the Sergeant's horse, a beautiful bay. The last words 
the Yankee Sergeant uttered before he died, was to ask 
Mickler to take good care of George, the horse. Mick- 
ler named the horse Redmond, after his old master. He 
rode this horse for months, until the day Sergt. Cal- 
houn Sparks was wounded, when he literally "rode him 
to death." Poor Redmond, many a night and day we 
have stood side by side, sometimes in a warm, comfort- 
able stable, sometimes in the pines (when the enemy 
was after us) ; many a race and jumping match I had 
with Redmond, for Mickler soon learnt him to jump, 
for he knew nothing of that accomplishment when he 
captured him. In the charge and fight, I have spoken 
of in Brentsville, Mickler and Shoolbread fired every 
barrel of their two pistols — for all the scouts wore a 

63 



pair of Colt's army pistols, captured, of course, from 
the enemy. When Shoolbread had fired his last barrel, 
one of the Yankees ahead of him, seeing him stop fir- 
ing, checked his horse and fired at him twice, nearly in 
his face. Shoolbread, having nothing to shoot with 
and his last empty pistol in his hand, hurled the pistol at 
the Yankee's head, fortunately striking him in the face 
and knocking him completely off his horse. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

Our next little escapade was near Greenwood 
Church. A regiment of Yankees were returning to 
their camp from a scout. We met, or rather saw, them 
before they got to the ford at the run, Mickler con- 
cealed his men in the thick pines on the bank of the run, 
and waited until they rode in and halted to water their 
horses, when he ordered his men to fire. Imagine the 
scene that ensued. Mickler's intention was to fire on 
them, and "then get away." But seeing such a stam- 
pede among them, he ordered a charge, and we ran 
them into their picket lines near Dumfries. Oh ! what 
a glorious race it was. We found the killed and 
wounded of the enemy all along the route, as we re- 
turned from the pursuit with our prisoners. It was a 
four or five mile race. The only horse I knew could 
outrun me that day was Shoolbread's — a large and 
beautiful bay, with flowing mane and tail, and black 
legs — his name was Don. Don's master loved him like 
a brother (more perhaps), and had ridden him from 
the beginning of the war. 



64 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

Our next 'brush took place between Occoquon village 
and Brentsville. Mickler left from near Catlett's sta- 
tion one day about 3 P. M. We passed through 
Brentsville towards Occoquon. Mickler remarked to 
some one, "he was going down to stir up the 1st Michi- 
gan Cavalry, who were encamped below, and were 
making daily scouts to Brentsville, Occoquon and other 
places. We had heard that they had threatened "to eat 
up without salt" Wade Hampton's little band of scouts. 
We stopped for the night at Deep Run, near Occoquon, 
at the house of George Bradfield. My master and 
Mickler always stayed together, so Redmond and my- 
self were dose friends. The other scouts put up at 
different houses, by twos and) threes, as they saw fit. 
A rendezvous was always appointed before the separa- 
tion. Redmond and myself were just being saddled, 
bright and early next morning, when our host, Geo. 
Bradfield, who was standing by, said to Sergt. Mickler, 
"Did you not caution your men last evening, before 
they left here, to be sure and stay on this side of the 
river? I see some men over at my brother's place 
(which was across the river), and they look like Yan- 
kee cavalry, too." So we all commenced looking, and 
sure enough we saw, as it appeared, about a dozen Fed- 
eral cavalrymen drawn up near his brother's house, and 
looking intently in our direction. Mickler asked Brad- 
field if there was no other ford to cross the river, except 
the one in a few hundred yards of his house, and 
directly in view of the enemy ? Bradford replied, there 
was an old blind ford about a mile above his house; 
•but it would be very bad crossing it, as the banks were 
steep, and the water deep as well as rocky. "But," he 
said, "if you can get across you will be directly in the 

65 



rear of the men we see yonder at my brother's." About 
this time the different scouts came dashing up, evidently 
having seen or heard something of the enemy. By the 
time we reached the public road, in front of where we 
had passed the night, every member of the scouts had 
joined us. Sergt. Mickler taking Bradfieldi behind 
him on Redmond, to pilot us, we started through the 
woods for the blind ford After proceeding about a 
mile and 1 a half, Bradfield sprung from the horse and 
said, "Yonder is the fordi; cross it if you can, and keep 
bearing to your right after you cross, and you will come 
out, as I have told ! you, directly in the rear of the Yan- 
kees." Sergt. Mickler was a born woodsman and scout. 
He told his men, "Now, boys, follow me close, and we 
will capture this squad, if there is not a larger force in 
sight." Then commenced a race that beat all the deer 
and fox hunts I have ever experienced. We were at 
the ford in a few minutes, and what a ford it was. The 
banks were steep, and' about six or eight feet above the 
water. But there was no time to "count chances." 
Mickler and Redmond were half way across, and Arab 
and the rest were not far behind. Mickler did not stop 
to see who had crossed, when he reached 1 the other side, 
but yelling to his men to follow him, he dashed forward 
like a "streak of lightning." After a race of about a 
mile, every man and horse "for himself, and God for us 
all," we came to a cleared field in front of Bradfield's 
house, and there was the enemy drawn up to meet us, 
their Sharp's rifles "at the ready." Sergt. Mickler 
halted as he got to the clearing, to form his men for the 
charge, I suppose ; but so rapid had been the race and so 
difficult to cross the ford, that instead of seventeen men, 
there were only four, Sergt. Mickler, Hogan, from Co. 
I, Hanly, ist North Carolina Cavalry, and Arab and 
rider. The Sergeant did not hesitate a moment. He 

66 



said, "Boys, there are only ten of them. Draw your 
pistols and follow me." Each man drew his pistol, and 
followed the brave Sergeant. When we got in a short 
distance of them, they opened fire with their rifles, and 
our riders with their pistols. Three of them dropped 
from their saddles, the other seven broke and fled, the 
lieutenant leading the flight. Fortunately, not a man 
or horse on our side was touched from their fire 
(though I must say, those balls whistled "too close to 
be comfortable"). Our riders paid no attention to the 
fallen men, but kept on in close pursuit of the seven 
flying horsemen. After a short race we dropped two 
men from their saddles, captured four, and after a fur- 
ther race of about a half mile we captured the lieuten- 
ant, who, although splendidly mounted, could not force 
his horse to jump a fence in his front, and we literally 
rode him down, man and horse. 



CHAPTER XXXII. 

Sergt. Mickler learnt from the lieutenant that he was 
in charge of a detachment from the ist Michigan Cav- 
alry, one among their brag cavalry regiments, and that 
several companies of the regiment had gone on to 
Brentsville, on a reconnoitering expedition, and that he 
with his squad of men had been left to keep a lookout 
towards Occoquon and Dumfries, so they could not "be 
taken in their rear," or cut off from their lines. He 
also informed Mickler that the main body had been 
gone about an hour and would probably return in two 
or three hours. We left the wounded men at Brad- 
field's house, and Mickler sent the lieutenant and other 
prisoners, under a guard of three men, off to the woods. 
That cut our small force down still lower, and just to 

67 



think we were going to attack the famous ist Michigan, 
U. S. A. But we were going to bushwack them (as 
they called it), or rather we were going to ambush 
them (as we called it), and we had a head like Sergt. 
Mickler to plan the ambush, and men to carry his plans 
through, by stubborn fighting, like the brave Sergt. 
Sparks, Butler, Hennegan, Hogan, Hanly, Doolin, 
Willingham, Cecil Johnson, Shoolbread and others 
equally as fearless. Mickler took his men in the direc- 
tion of Brentsville on the road the Yankees had just 
passed up, minus Corp. Mickler and two men guarding 
the prisoners. About three miles from Brentsville and 
south, on this road was a deep cut, with a high embank- 
ment on each side, very similar to what is called "a rail- 
road cut." The top of the embankment was covered 
with a thick undergrowth of bushes and some few large 
trees. Here Mickler dismounted his men, with the 
exception of Sergt. Sparks, Doolin, and Hanly. We 
(the horses) were tied to trees, about thirty yards from 
the road, and concealed by the dense undergrowth. 

I heard Mickler tell his men before they left us : 
"Now, boys, I am going to string you along this hill. 
Don't a man fire until he hears the report of Sergt. 
Henderson's pistol, who will be stationed on your left, 
and nearest the advancing enemy." He told my mas- 
ter : "Let the advance guard pass; don't fire until the 
head of the column gets opposite to you. Then, 
boys, give them every barrel of your pistols, and then 
run back, mount your horses and follow them." The 
mounted men were stationed on the right of the dis- 
mounted men, only a little further back from the road, 
with orders, that as soon as the enemy passed, to charge 
their rear, yelling and shouting. 

Well, everything was arranged, as I have tried in my 
imperfect way to describe. I, Arab, was tied about the 

68 



nearest horse to the road — near enough to hear, if not 
to see, all that took place in the road. We had been 
there, perhaps, an hour or longer, man and horse listen- 
ing for the first sound of the coming enemy. Sud- 
denly we heard horses' feet coming from the direction 
of Brentsville. Every one kept as silent as possible. 
Soon we could hear the voices of men, though in a low 
tone. The advance guard soon appeared, about twenty 
men, riding "four abreast." As they got opposite me, 
I heard one soldier say to another, "Look how the road 
is cut up with horses' feet — we could not have made all 
these tracks going up. I bet you those d — m — d 
Rebels are after us, and perhaps going to bushwack us 
as we return." The other answered, "Oh, no ; the road 
is wet and boggy. There can't be any Johnnies 
around — for don't you remember we left the lieutenant 
and a squad of men near here, to keep a lookout and to 
prevent our being bushwacked." 

I (Arab) did not make any reply to the question or 
answer, but I thought to myself and laughed quietly, 
when I remembered what had! been the fate of the lieu- 
tenant's squad, and where and with what good com- 
pany the lieutenant and squad were then keeping — for 
Corpl. Huger Mickler, though as brave as a lion, was 
exceedingly kind and courteous to Yankees after they 
had surrendered. The advance guard passed safely by, 
and soon the head of the advancing column appeared 
and approached us, entering the cut. As ordered, the 
signal shot rang out, and shot after shot in rapid succes- 
sion followed, dealing death and destruction to the ter- 
rified enemy, from a foe they could not see. 

What a scene followed. Men and horses down; 
those behind running or riding over those in their 
front ; some trying to ride their horses up the steep slip- 
pery bank and never succeeding, but falling back on 



those below. Every effort being made to get away 
from the bushwackers, "The Bad Johnnie Rebs." In 
a very short time our riders were on our backs and fol- 
lowing at full speed the flying enemy. Several differ- 
ent occasions they were halted by their officers to make 
a stand and fight ; but although there were brave men in 
the ist Michigan, they could not make a stand against 
Hampton's scouts, for I verily believe they would have 
charged a brigade that day. 

We ran them into their picket lines, capturing men 
and horses at every step. Mickler now halted his men, 
and we started to return to the scene of ambush, pick- 
ing up pistols, sabres, haversacks, blankets, ets., the 
entire way. When we arrived in a couple of hundred 
yards of the cut, we saw a Yankee cavalryman sitting 
on his horse, not far from the road, and apparently 
looking at some object on the ground, for he paid no 
attention to our approach. Several of the men (mv 
rider among them) dashed in the direction of the dra- 
goon, and when we got to him, this was the sight that 
greeted us. Our brave Sergt. Calhoun Sparks (as 
pale as death and bleeding profusely from a wound in 
his breast) lying at full length on the ground, with his 
pistol pointed at the Yankee and the Yankee's pistol 
and sabre lying on the ground at his horse's feet, for the 
Sergeant had made him unbuckle his belt and drop 
them there when he first captured him — perhaps a half 
hour ago. 

This was the tale Sergt. Sparks told the men when 
they had dismounted and procured some water for him : 
"That when they (the men left mounted) had first 
charged the flying enemy, that he (Sparks), after firing 
the last barrel of his second pistol, found that he was 
shot in the right breast, clear through and through, and 
feeling that he was unable to sit his horse, turned him 

70 



out of the road into the woods, and had not ridden far 
before he fell from his horse, where we found him. He 
said he lost consciousness when he fell, and that when 
he regained consciousness, the Yankee was riding by 
him, having left the road and taken to the woods to 
escape (a wonderful thing for a Yankee to do, for they 
hated the woods). Sergt. Sparks said he still had his 
empty pistol grasped in his hand, and presenting it at 
the dragoon, ordered him to surrender, which he did. 
The Sergeant then ordered him to unbuckle his belt and 
drop his arms on the ground. All this he did with an 
empty pistol, and he in a fainting and nearly dying con- 
dition. Well, if you ever saw a mad man, it was that 
Yankee dragoon when he found out that the pistol 
pointed at him was empty. 

One of the men was sent to Ben. Cockrell's house 
(not far off) to get a conveyance to move Sergt. 
Sparks. When it came a Miss Sallie Brawner accom- 
panied it and took possession of Sparks, conveying him 
to her brother-in-law's house (Ben. Cockrell), for she 
was a noble Virginia woman, and a true and tried 
friend to all the scouts. Mickler did not have a man 
killed in this little fight. Sparks severely wounded; 
Hanly had his fine little grey horse killed ; Doolin also 
had his horse killed. Several of the Yankees were 
killed in the cut, many more wounded, and several 
killed and wounded, besides the prisoners taken during 
the running fight on the road. Barney Hennegan got a 
severe fall and his horse injured, riding down the slip- 
pery embankment. Sergt. Mickler sent two men with 
the wagon to convey Sergt. Sparks to Cockrell's house, 
promising to bring a doctor that night to dress his 
wound, if one was to be found in Prince William 
County. He then started with the prisoners (a goodly 
number) to get them across the Orange and Alexan- 

71 



dria Railroad, after which they would be sent, with a 
detail of men, into the Confederate lines. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 

We passed back through Brentsville, the ladies and 
old men flocking the street to see us pass with the pris- 
oners, who a few hours before were bragging to them 
how they were going to annihilate Hampton and Fitz 
Lee's scouts. We also learnt here the fate of the only 
body of men of the 1st Michigan who escaped "Scott 
Free," and that was the rear guard. For when they 
heard the firing in front, they turned back, and passing 
through Brentsville at full speed, took the road for 
Manassas, where some of their forces were encamped. 

The enemy soon came out in force (as we learnt that 
night) after us. But when they reached Brentsville, 
the detachment with the prisoners were nearly to Thor- 
oughfare Gap, if not beyond it — for that was our usual 
course in getting prisoners out from their lines into 
ours. Well do I remember every foot of ground 
around old Thoroughfare Gap, Hopewell's Gap, War- 
renton C. H., Warrenton Junction, Catlett's Station, 
Bristow, Burke, Grinage, Fairfax C. H., Vienna, etc. 
Passing over the ground night as well as clay for years. 

After getting his prisoners safely across the railroad, 
Sergt. Mickler put them in charge of his brother, with 
a squad of men and, as I have said, they set out speedily 
for the lines of the C. S. A. The sergent then, taking 
my master with him, set out to look for a doctor, after 
(I should have said) getting something to eat and a 
fresh horse — for he had literally ridden my poor friend, 
Redmond, to death that day. We set out near sun-set 
on our hunt for a doctor (I know I was feeling quite 

72 



refreshed, after a good feed of corn and hay). We 
went first to Weaversville, near Catlett's, and not find- 
ing one there, we went up the railroad towards Bristow, 
to the house of a Dr. Osborne, who we found at home, 
and he being a good "Secesh." and a friend to the 
Southern cause, accompanied us. We reached Ben. 
Cockrell's about 10 o'clock that night. We found 
Sparks alive and doing as well as could be expected. 
The doctor soon examined his wound, and much to our 
relief and every one of the household, said with good 
nursing he would "pull through." Fortunately for the 
gallant color-bearer of the 2d 1 South Carolina Cavalry, 
the ball had passed clear through and through, entering 
his right breast just above the nipple and passing out 
under his left shoulder-blade. 

The enemy had been to the house in the afternoon on 
the lookout for the " Johnnies," but did not search the 
house, and so did not find him, and they never did; for 
after staying there a couple of weeks, and being care- 
fully and kindly nursed by Miss Sallie and her sister, 
Mrs. Cockrell, and a host of other charming and noble 
Virginia matrons and girls, Sergt. Mickler got Dr. 
Taylor, our surgeon, to send over an ambulance and he 
was borne safely out of the enemy's lines. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Some time after this incident, the 8th Illinois regi- 
ment of cavalry, the crack regiment of the "Army of 
the Potomac," was regularly detailed to break up, cap- 
ture and drive out of Prince William County the last 
one of Hampton's scouts. The colonel of the regiment 
was named Fd>nsworth, a gallant and gentlemanly offi- 
cer, killed afterwards at Gettysburg. Sergt. Mickler 

73 



and my master, as I have already stated, always staid 
together. On a certain day, while taking a "day off" 
to rest, after a three or four days' scout, they had 
turned us horses (Billy, the sergeant's horse, and my- 
self,) out in a small clover field to graze, at Mr. Coop- 
er's, where they always put up. Suddenly one of the 
scouts came dashing up (I forget who) and said, "A 
regiment of Yankee cavalry had passed through 
Brentsville and were moving in the direction of Cat- 
lett's Station, searching every house, right and left, on 
their way. It took only a few minutes to saddle us up, 
and off we started to get the men together, as well as 
notify them of this advance. Mickler sent the scout 
who had notified us, to the next house to give warning 
to his brother, the corporal, and George Crafton, and 
he and my master struck across the country for a place 
called "The Yankee Settlement," where six or eight of 
the scouts put up — much, I have no doubt, to these 
good Union people's disgust. We warned several 
scouts on the way, and then pushed on for Mrs. Kline's, 
one of the northern women, where Beck and Shool- 
bread were quartered. When we got in sight of the 
house, we saw it surrounded by the Federal cavalry. 
We had approached the place by cutting across the 
fields and woods, for I always noticed Mickler never 
traveled roads day or night, unless he was obliged to. 
The sergeant fired off several barrels of his pistol, to 
draw the attention of the enemy to us, for he knew the 
Yankee horses could not catch Billy and I — they had 
tried it often, but always failed, especially when we 
were near the woods as we were at present. The 
enemy heard the shots and we could see we had arrested 
their attention, but they did not advance in our direc- 
tion. We could not see or hear anything of Beck or 
Shoolbread. Directly we saw a squad of Yankees 

74 



leave the dwelling house and make for the stable and 
barns — for you know Yankee people always have their 
stables and barns some distance from their dwellings 
(and very wisely, too,) and I have also noticed that 
their barns are generally better buildings than their 
dwellings. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 

Just as the squad got near the stable, we saw (for it 
was in plain view) Beck ride out, mounted on a fine 
mare he had recently captured from our friends, the 1st 
Michigan cavalry. Of course, the Yankees halted in 
surprise; and, to our surprise, we saw Beck dash to- 
wards them and through them, passing in his flight 
through several other squads, and in close pistol range 
of those at the dwelling house. A wide lane, with a 
high fence on each side, led from the stables and barn to 
the dwelling. Diverging into another lane to the left, 
leading in the direction of Manassas, Beck, of course, 
took the lane to the left, and though hundreds of shots 
were fired after him, escaped — neither man or horse 
being struck. The enemy then returned to the stable 
and entered it, and in a few minutes we saw them come 
out with Shoolbread and his horse, Don, as prisoners, 
and I know he hated Don's being captured worse than 
his own. In fact, I heard him tell some one, after he 
had been exchanged, that since he had been back, he 
had entered the Yankee camps night after night search- 
ing thoroughly their horse pickets for Don — for we had 
heard from the citizens that the adjutant of the 8th 
Illinois had taken Don to ride. But he never suc- 
ceeded in getting poor Don back. Shoolbread never 
forgot him, and would speak of him to the close of the 

75 



war. The enemy on this occasion took three or four 
more of our scouts — Bob Towles for one. Sergt. 
Mickler got his men together before the enemy re- 
turned, and he laid an ambuscade for them at Broad 
Run. We were just about firing into them while cross- 
ing the run, when Mickler remembered the prisoners, 
and as it was then night, and we could not tell friend 
from foe, we were obliged to let them pass, without fir- 
ing a shot, much to the regret of all the men, who had a 
warm reception in store for them. 

The next morning, my master had just brought me 
out of the stable to groom me, before eating my feed, 
when we saw a man advancing across the fields from 
the direction of Mr. Allan Howison's house. He had 
no hat on his head and seemed to be in a big hurry. 
When he came up it proved to be Bob Towles, and this 
was his story : That he had escaped from the enemy 
just before they reached Dumfries (where they were 
encamped). Said there was a fallen tree across the 
road and a footpath to get around it, and that they had 
to take it single file — for each prisoner, he said, was 
guarded by two men, one on each side, with a cocked 
pistol in their hands. He said, as he turned in this 
path, with one of his guards preceding and the other 
following him, that he made up his mind to escape. It 
was a very dark night ; so he quietly dropped from his 
horse, remaining perfectly still until the entire regiment 
passed him. He also said it was a good thing we did 
not fire into the Yankee regiment the night before, for 
the enemy were expecting an ambush, especially at the 
run, and 'had placed all the prisoners together about the 
centre of the column. 



76 



CHAPTER XXVI. 

Well, I will now give you another incident of our ad- 
ventures before leaving Prince William County, and I 
will also give you an account of the killing of two of 
our bravest men — Sergt. Calhoun Sparks and Corpl. 
Huger Mickler — as gallant and devoted soldiers as ever 
drew sabre in defense of the Southern Confederacy. 
One beautiful afternoon, Sergt. Mickler, accompanied 
by about a half dozen men, started on a little expedition 
towards Warrenton Junction and Bealton Station, for 
he had heard that a brigade of the enemy's cavalry had 
passed down that morning, and he wanted to ascertain 
what they were after. 

The country from Bristow to Warrenton Junction is 
what is termed in Virginia "a very open country" — 
that is, there is only an occasional body of woods. As 
I heard Sergt. Mickler tell several of the scouts before 
we started, who wished to accompany him, "Mind, I am 
going on a running, not a fighting trip this afternoon, 
and you well know what an open country it is. I only 
want a few men on fast horses." The Sergeant's party 
consisted of five men, all well mounted. They were 
Corpl. Mickler, Barney Hennegan (for a wonder, on a 
good horse, just captured), Cecil Johnston, Sergt. 
Woodward Barnwell and my master. Sergt. Barn- 
well had a small squad of his own, from the 2d South 
Carolina Cavalry; but lately had attached his five men 
to Mickler's squad. When I finish this reconnois- 
sance I will give you an account of one of the most dar- 
ing deeds of the war, performed a few days previously 
by him and his five men. We proceeded! quietly along 
after leaving Bristow Station in the direction of the 
junction, stopping occasionally at the different houses 
on the route to find out if the enemy had left any clue 

77 



of their destination. From what we could learn from 
the citizens, they were only reconnoitering, for they 
told several people they would pass back that afternoon. 
We met with no incidents worth mentioning, and did 
not see a "blue coat" — only the road freshly cut up by 
their horses' feet. When we arrived in sight of War- 
renton Junction, we met a Union citizen, who told us 
the enemy had gone on about an hour ago towards 
Bealton Station, or perhaps Rappahannock Bridge. 
Now whether this worthy Union citizen wanted us 
captured or not, or whether the enemy had started off, 
and, seeing us approaching, had concealed themselves 
hoping to capture us, we never did ascertain. But his 
information threw the Sergeant's party completely off 
their guard. For close around the houses at the junc- 
tion was a dense body of woods, and if the scouts had 
not been informed that the enemy had left, they would 
have approached the place with proper caution, for the 
undergrowth, as well as the large oaks, afforded a good 
place for concealment. The squad arrived in a short 
distance of the houses, the men riding abreast, and 
laughing heartily at some amusing story related by 
Barney Hennegan, when suddenly we heard, "Halt! 
Halt !" "Surrender ! Surrender !" And there in thirty 
or forty yards of us, were the brigade of Yankee cav- 
alry. 

Now, reader (for perhaps I may have a few), you 
may talk about horse-racing; but you ought to have 
been there, that bright and beautiful summer afternoon, 
and then you would have seen horse-racing indeed. 
The enemy were well mounted, and most certainly ex- 
pected to capture the last one of us, or they would have 
fired on us as we approached at such close quarters, pos- 
sibly killing or wounding the party. Sergt. Mickler 
led the five men for a short distance in the direction of 

78 



the nearest piece of wood's with several fences interven- 
ing. He then, with one of his men, placed himself in 
the rear, telling the men to keep a "straight line" for 
the pines. It was only child's play for Billy and I 
(Arab) to keep ahead of those Yankee horses, for I 
had "sort of got over my scare," and was enjoying the 
race. About the third fence we approached, Sergt. 
Barnwell, who was riding a splendid sorrel, as his horse 
was clearing the fence like a deer, his saddle-girth 
broke, and over his horse's head went the Sergeant and 
his saddle — the horse flying like the wind in the direc- 
tion started. But the sorrel was "counting wrong" 
(like the Yankees did in regard to catching us), if he 
thought he was gone, for as Billy and myself cleared 
the fence in the rear, my master slacked the reins and 
closed the spurs, and leaning over my neck, said, "Now, 
Arab, show them what you can do — I want to catch the 
sorrel." In a hundred yards I was beside him, and my 
master had him by the bridle, and back to the Sergeant 
before the Yankees could pull down the fence and pass 
through. Sergt. Barnwell mounted his horse bare- 
back, for there was no time to regain the saddle. He 
now led the squad; for if the sorrel flew like the wind 
previously, he now equalled a streak of lightning. The 
men "made good their escape," thanks to the speed of 
our horses. Not a man or horse injured. I have 
often heard Sergt. Barnwell say afterwards, that my 
master saved his life, or at least saved him from a term 
in the "Old Capitol Prison" in Washington, D. C. 
When I 'heard these remarks, I did not express my- 
self — for, no doubt, you have seen I am very reserved, 
as well as modest; but I will tell you what I thought 
and it was this : you can give the praise to my master, 
Sergeant, for catching your horse, but I think Arab is 
the one who is entitled to the praise. Still I was never 

79 



jealous of my master, for I had long ago found out that 
he was my best and truest friend. 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 

Now for the incident of Sergt. Barnwell and his 
men. They were at the house of a citizen, whose name 
was Marstella, who lived between Catletts and Grin- 
nage. He had five pretty daughters, all devoted to the 
Southern cause. The names of Barnwell's scouts 
were : Willie Haskell, Gillespie Thornwell and Newton 
Fowles, Congaree Troop (Co. H, I think) ; John Brad- 
ley and Roswell Logan, Boykin Rangers (Co. A). 
After breakfast one morning, the party had saddled up 
their horses and hitched them to the fence in front of 
the dwelling, preparatory to going on a scout. They 
were all assembled in the front "stoop," perhaps bid- 
ding the young ladies adieu, when a party of Yankee 
cavalry dashed up to the gate and ordered them to sur- 
render. But instead of surrendering they opened fire 
with their pistols from the stoop upon the foe — the 
girls, of course, getting inside the house. The scouts 
shot down five or six from their horses, advanced on 
them, driving them off ; they then mounted their horses 
and escaped, with not a flesh wound among the five. 

Sergt. Mickler and my master stopped there some 
time afterwards to see the young ladies, and heard them 
say, you could not lay your hand anywhere on the par- 
tition back of this small stoop without covering a bullet 
hole from the fire of the Yankees. It was a brave deed, 
worthy to be recorded in favor of the gallant six men 
who were the actors. 



80 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

A short time after this, Sergt. Mickler was preparing 
to make a scout down in the "Forest." He ordered 
Corpl. Huger Mickler to take George Crafton and a 
Virginia scout, named Pierson, and go down the day 
before and find out the different picket posts of the 
enemy ; also a certain reserve picket post he had heard 
of near Dumfries. After accomplishing this work, he 
would find him (the Sergeant) at Smith's house, near 
Old' Bacon Race Church, the following night. Corpl. 
Mickler got ready and rode over where his brother and 
my master were staying, to get his final instructions. I 
remember how handsome he looked that afternoon and 
how nicely he was dressed, in his new grey uniform, 
new hat, boots and gauntlets, all captured ready-made 
from the enemy, except the cloth, from which his Vir- 
ginia sweetheart had made him the suit. I had a good 
look at him, for I was hitched to the fence near the gate, 
where 'he sat on his horse. I had always liked and ad- 
mired' the Corporal, for though only a war horse, I 
always liked brave men. Poor fellow, six hours later 
he was a corpse, literally riddled with Yankee bullets. 

The Sergeant soon followed the three scouts down 
with his entire party, and stopped as agreed upon at 
Smith's house to await the coming of his brother. I 
heard my master say afterwards, that he and Mickler 
had retired for the night, leaving word 1 with Smith to 
call him when his brother arrived 1 . He said, before 
they got to sleep they heard a knock at the door, Sergt. 
Mickler sprung from the bed and asked, "Is that you, 
Huger?" A voice answered, "No, Sergeant, it is I, 
George Crafton. I have sad news to tell you about 
poor Huger. He is killed." My master says the Ser- 
gent fell like he was s'hot — for they loved each other 

81 



very dearly, those two brothers. Crafton entered the 
room and told them the particulars of his death. Said 
the three of them were riding abreast near Greenwood 
Church, where they intended hiding their horses in the 
pines and "taking it afoot," when they rode into an 
ambuscade of the enemy, who without even halting 
them, fired a volley on them, killing Corpl. Mickler. 
George Crafton and Pierson escaped by a miracle, their 
clothing being perforated in several places. Pierson 
had two bullet holes through his hat, besides those 
through his coat. Fortunately neither of their horses 
were hit, so they escaped, leaving their comrade's body 
"in the hands of the enemy." The Yankees the next 
day established a picket post at the church. They 
kindly allowed the citizens to bury Corpl. Mickler's 
bodty, and the remains of the gallant Corpl. Huger 
Mickler still rest in old Greenwood Church-yard. 



CHAPTER XXXIX. 

A short time after this, Sergt. Calhoun Sparks re- 
turned from his furlough to his old home in Greenville, 
S. C. He spent the night of his return with Sergt. 
Mickler, at Mr. Cooper's, and I heard that his wound 
was still unhealed ; but the gallant Sergeant said he was 
longing, the whole time he was at home, "To be back 
with 'The Boys' in old Prince William." 

The next morning, Sergt. Mickler, with Sparks and 
another scout, started out to see if he could get any in- 
formation of the movements of the Federal army. 
Passing through the "Union Settlement," he stopped at 
the house of the Widow Burdine (a Northern settler). 
A niece of the widow's told the Sergeant just before he 
entered the house (and as soon as she could do so, un- 

82 



observed by the others,) that there were three Yankee 
officers in the house. That as soon as they had seen us 
coming, the widow had hid the officers in the cellar. 
Sergt. Mickler had left Sparks to hold the three horses, 
and he with the other scout rushed down to the cellar. 
Just as he unfastened the 'hasp, and raising the door, 
placed his foot on the first step to descend, the Yankee 
officers fired, shattering the Sergeant's leg just below 
the knee. He was dragged back by his comrade, the 
door closed and the hasp hooked, and assisted out to his 
horse, or rather to Arab, for he was riding me that 
morning. He was placed in the saddle, and I bore him 
as carefully as possible to the nearest woods. Just as 
Sergt. Sparks wheeled his horse from the house, to 
follow Mickler and his companion, the Yankees fired 
the second time, through the cellar window (of glass), 
killing the brave Sergeant instantly. Thus died an- 
other gallant cavalryman, and one among the bravest, 
as well as the most moral and courteous of Hampton's 
scouts. The enemy allowed the citizens to bury him 
decently at a church near by, for they were encamped 
not far off — in fact, all around in that vicinity; and 
when Lee's army drove the enemy back, his brother, 
Pierce Sparks, from the same company and regiment, 
took his remains up and carried them back to South 
Carolina, to old Greenville, I suppose, and there he is 
quietly sleeping, awaiting the "Great roll call." Sleep 
peacefully, brave Sparks ; your death was noble, as your 
life was beautiful. 



83 



CHAPTER XL. 

One more little incident, before I take up the scenes 
in the valley of Virginia. One morning about this 
time, who should walk up to Mr. Cooper's, thirty or 
perhaps fifty miles from the Confederate lines, but Ben, 
who we had left in camp, when we were detailed to 
scout. His story was that he had become dissatisfied 
in camp, and had started out to hunt up master and 
Arab. But we heard another version of the story, 
when the detail returned from our lines, after carrying 
out the next batch of prisoners. Ben and another 
darkey in camp had stolen Capt. Dean's horses to attend 
a dance at Raccoon Ford. The horses were missed be- 
fore daylight (contrary to Ben's expectations), and a 
guard set to arrest the culprits on their return. Just a 
short time before day they returned and were arrested 
and put in the guard house. Col. Butler instructed 
Bobertson (the wagon master) to give them fifty lashes 
and release them. Ben, not fancying this arrangement, 
left his comrade to receive the stipes by cutting his way 
out the guard tent, and vamoosed via Brandy Station 
and Rappahannock Bridge, Bealton, Warrenton Junc- 
tion, Catletts, and thence to Mr. Cooper's. 



CHAPTER XLI. 

Some time after this the enemy made Prince Wil- 
liam County too hot for us, and we had to cross the 
railroad and take to the Blue Ridge Mountains, called 
"Mosby's Confederacy." I am trying, in my imperfect 
horse manner, to relate scenes and incidents as they oc- 
curred, and especially to relate them truthfully. So if 
after this long lapse of time, I should happen to relate 

84 



one incident before another, or omit to mention the 
names of any of the brave men or horses who took part 
in them, be assured it is lack of memory and not inten- 
tional. So now I have given my excuse, and as I have 
already stated, if I should happen to relate one deed 
before another, or indite the death or wounding of a 
scout previous to the proper time, you have my apology. 
But be assured of this fact, that what I have attempted 
to relate, is intended for the truth, "the whole truth, 
and nothing but the truth, so help me God." 

When we retired to Mosby's Confederacy, Sergt. 
Mickler and my master got quarters with a family of 
the name of Gibson, residing on the road leading from 
Piedmont to Paris, the latter place being nearly in 
sight. The enemy down in our old scouting grounds 
had ceased 1 coming out in small detachments, that we 
could attack — for you know we could not alzvays pitch 
into a regiment. They even had the Orange and Alex- 
andria Railroad guarded, as well as a constant patrol of 
horsemen to keep us out of their lines. So I heard we 
were going to join Mosby in a day or two, to go on a 
big scout, down to Fauquier and Prince William. Sure 
enough, Sergt. Mickler got a message from Major 
Mosby, saying he would be happy to have him and his 
men join him on a scout he contemplated making, and 
to join him on a certain day at Upperville, where he 
had called a meeting of his men. We met there, and 
I will try and give you a description of the "Partisan 
Chief," as I first saw him. We had 1 been waiting for 
some time at Upperville, scouts coming from every 
direction, when after about eighty or a hundred men 
had assembled, some one said, "Here comes Major 
Mosby." He rode up, mounted on a beautiful black 
mare, with long flowing mane and tail — a perfect 
beauty. The Major's looks did not strike me at first 

85 



like his horse did, but after I saw him fight once, I 
liked his appearance better. He was a tall and rather 
thin man, perfectly erect, a clean shaved face, keen 
piercing grey eyes, that looked like they could see 
through you, dressed in a Confederate Major's uni- 
form, rather the worse for wear, a black hat and 
feather, with a splendid pair of cavalry boots, a pair of 
Colt's army pistols around his waist, his coat-tails 
worn and ragged on each side — from constant rubbing 
of his pistols, I surmised with my horse sense. The 
Major was introduced to Mickler and his men by Lieut. 
Montjoy, of his command, who Hampton's men had 
long known. The Major seemed to make himself very 
agreeable to the men, and appointed the third day from 
date to meet at Salem, to take a little pleasure trip down 
to Fauquier and Prince William Counties. 

We left the hospitable home of Mr. Gibson and his 
two pretty daughters, bright and early on the third 
morning, and went to Rector town, where all of Mick- 
ler's men joined him. We then proceeded to Salem, 
to meet Mosby. We left the latter place with Mosby 
and his command, about n A. M., and proceeded 
through White Plains, Piedmont and Markhams (near 
Manassas Gap). Here we had pointed out the house 
where the brave Cavalier, Turner Ashby, was horn and 
raised. Passing through Thoroughfare Gap, we 
reached Warrenton C. H. about sun-set. On our 
march that day, I never heard an order given to the 
men by Mosby. He rode at the head of the column, 
formed four abreast, the men riding "at will" — break- 
ing ranks whenever they desired, without permission, 
to visit the different houses on each side of the turn- 
pike. Still they would return quickly, and though no 
orders were given or taken, everything seemed to 
"work right." Mickler's party, as well as some of 

86 



Mosby's men, slept beside their horses, on the main 
street. Corn, oats and hay were plentiful, and the 
ladies of Warren ton vied with each other in furnishing 
eatables, and drinkables to the scouts — too much of the 
latter to some of them, it seemed to me. 

Mosby had sent some of his most reliable men out in 
the direction of Warrenton Junction, where a force of 
the enemy was said to be encamped. The junction is 
nine miles from the court house. We left the court 
house about sun-rise the next morning, marching in the 
direction of the junction. When we had proceeded 
about half way, some of the scouts came in and re- 
ported a body of the enemy encamped not far off. 
Mosby had with him on this scout about ninety or a 
hundred men. Mickler about nineteen, perhaps twen- 
ty-one men. Mosby soon gave the order, to follow 
him (the only order I ever did hear him give at any 
time), and away we dashed. But very soon we found 
to our dismay that we had charged into an encampment 
of Yankee infantry, instead of cavalry, and you ought 
to have seen us getting away from those fellows, with 
their long rifles. Fortunately we did not lose a man 
from the fire we were greeted with. We brought off a 
few prisoners from the videttes or camp guard. The 
men making the prisoners mount behind them on their 
horses. From the prisoners Mosby learnt tnat the 1st 
Virginia Federal Cavalry were encamped in the house's 
at the junction, so we started for them. When we got 
in about a mile and a half of the houses at Warrenton 
Junction, in plain view, in this open country, Mosby 
again gave the order, "Follow me," and put his black 
mare to her speed. Then began a regular race. Across 
two small creeks we horses flew. When we got nearer, 
we could see the Yankee horses tied to stakes driven in 
the ground' — a great many of them pulling them up 

87 



and dashing wildly away, frightened at the approach of 
the hated "Johnnies." When we got pretty near the 
large house at the junction, we could see the heads of 
the enemy from all the windows, down stairs and up 
stairs, looking, I suppose, to see who and how many 
we were. At this time there was only two horses lead- 
ing Arab — Mosby's black and Mickler's sorrel. Close 
behind me was Gillespie Thornwell and Sim Miller, 
with perhaps a half dozen of Mosby's men. The main 
body one hundred and fifty yards in their rear. We 
dashed up in front of the house, the men with cocked 
pistols in their hands ; when, as sudden as a flash of 
lightning fram a cloud, came a sheet of fire, from doors, 
windows and everywhere else, it seemed to me. 

I have been under some pretty hot fires, and partici- 
pated in some hard battles, but that blaze of fire from 
rifles and pistols, in my very face and nostrils that day, 
exceeded all that I have ever encountered. The next 
thing I remember distinctly was that my master had 
wheeled me suddenly around and sought shelter behind 
one of the small houses to the right of the main build- 
ing. By this time the entire force had arrived, and 
Mosby ordered them to dismount and charge the house. 
They did so, and I saw Mosby plainly standing in front 
of one of the windows, firing shot after shot into the 
foe. Then I saw the men enter the house, and could 
only tell from the continual firing that the enemy had 
not surrendered. I heard afterwards that the fight 
was continued up the stairs, our scouts fighting their 
way, step by step, until they reached the top floor; 
when the brave Yankee officer in command being killed, 
the others threw down their arms and surrendered. 

Now commenced a scene O'f "Every man get what 
you can" (some people foolishly call it plundering). 
My rider, who had returned to me from the house, 

88 



mounted me, and said, "Come, Arab, let us capture 
some of these fine horses running around." I was 
quite pleased at this ; for I knew a good saddle horse 
meant rest for Arab, excepting critical occasions, when 
I knew by experience that my master would rather be 
on my back than on any horse in the Yankee army. 
We succeeded in capturing two fine-looking horses, one 
a bay and the other a black. We then started back 
towards the house, I suppose my master thinking he 
might "pick up a few little things needful," for the 
Yankees were the greatest people to have all sorts of 
good and useful things that I have ever encountered. 

Just before we reached the house, we saw young 
Gillespie Thorn well, sitting leaning back against a tree ; 
he was as pale as death, and his clothes being open, we 
could see the blood flowing from a wound in his abdo- 
men. We went to him, and he said, "Henderson, for 
God's sake, get me some water." He started off to 
procure the water, leaving me, with the halters of the 
two captured horses tied securely aroud my neck. He 
had just returned and handed the poor boy the canteen 
of water, when I heard something like a volley of mus- 
ketry, and looking up, I saw it was a regiment of Yan- 
kee cavalry, and the noise I heard was their horses' feet 
striking the railroad iron, as they crossed the track not 
fifty yards from where we were. They dashed past 
towards the house, where Mosby and Mickler were sit- 
ting on their horses. The men scattered around in 
every direction, some catching horses, others mount- 
ing the prisoners on horses that had been captured, etc. 
The last I saw of Mosby and Mickler that day, and for 
some days to come, they were trying to rally and form 
the men. But they did not succeed in doing so — the 
enemy were too close on them, and their force was too 
overpowering; for in the rear of the first regiment I 

89 



saw (8th New York Cavalry) and another regiment, 
5th New York Cavalry. For the two regiments were 
encamped just across the railroad, not a half mile from 
the junction, and hearing the firing, had come to the 
assistance of their comrades. That was the reason the 
1st Virginia Union Cavalry had fought "to the death," 
expecting every minute to get assistance. I heard 
Mickler say afterwards that the enemy pursued Mostly 
and himself to and through Warrenton C. H. They 
being well wounted, kept the road, while the men "took 
to the woods." The enemy recaptured all the prison- 
ers and horses, as well as several of Mickler's men and 
more of Mosby's. 



CHAPTER XLII. 

Now for my part in the picture. Before my master 
could cut the halters of the horses tied around my neck 
(for you may be sure he did not take time to untie 
them), the enemy were between us and our men at the 
house. In ten seconds it seemed he was on my back, 
and what I hated most, and I know he did also, was 
leaving poor Thornwell — for the last words I heard the 
gallant youth say was, "Don't leave me, Henderson." 
But we have to do a great many things in this world 
that are not agreeable, and "self-preservation is the 
first law of nature." Those heavy Texas spurs were 
pressed to my sides, and away we went towards the 
nearest body of pines, dashing in close proximity to a 
half a dozen straying Yankee cavalrymen. We crossed 
the railroad just about where the Yankees had crossed 
it, for that was the route for the nearest woods, as well 
as the only way open for us to escape. By this time 
there were several small parties after us, ordering us to 

90 



halt and surrender; but that only made me run the 
faster. The second fence I came to was a "stiff one, 
indeed;" still I think I could have cleared it, but I was 
stopped to pull down the top bar. The enemy had in 
the meanwhile torn down the first fence that I had 
leaped, and were in close pursuit of us. Unfortun- 
ately, the top bar of the second fence was pinned, and 
could not be torn down. I was then wheeled, to get a 
"rising start," to make the leap. Of course, in turning 
back, we were advancing towards the enemy, and the 
foolish fellows thought, I suppose, we were going to 
surrender; for they halted to await us. But in thirty 
or forty yards from the fence, I was wheeled to "the 
right about" and those spurs put in, and I showed those 
Yankees how a three-quarter-blooded South Carolina 
horse could leap a fence, "post and oak," though it was. 
I had not gone fifty yards after I had cleared this fence, 
when I felt something like a red hot iron inserted in the 
fleshy part of my thigh. I knew in an instant that it 
was a Yankee bullet, but I did not even slacken my 
speed. (By the way, that bullet is in my thigh to this 
day, and will be buried with me, for my master has 
promised me burial, and he says he has promised Gen. 
Hampton that I shall be decently buried when I die. 
Two other Yankee bullets were buried in mv chest be- 
fore the war was ended', but they were both cut out.) 
My rider never even knew I was wounded until I had 
cleared several other fences, and got safely in a prettv 
dense body of woods. Then he dismounted, and dis- 
covered I was wounded. And then T was repaid for 
all mv efforts to bring him safelv off, for he put his 
arms around mv neck and said. "You dear, noble, old 
horse, where could I ever find another horse like Arab? 
And to think I never even felt you flinch when you 
were shot. Never mind, 'old boy/ we will settle with 

91 



Mr. Yankee for this, i>f we escape." For things yet 
"looked pretty squally" for us. We could hear the 
enemy outside in the field adjoining the body of woods 
where we were concealed, even the sound of their 
horses' feet, also an occasional shot, as they pursued the 
scouts, and shot down or captured those who were not 
well mounted. The body of woods that we were in, 
though the undergrowth afforded a good place for con- 
cealment, was rather narrow, and there were so many 
different squads of the enemy moving around looking 
for us, that my master concluded it best to remain 
where we were until night. 

It was now about 2 P. M. of a long summer day. 
What a long, weary afternoon that appeared to me. 
My wound now commenced to be very painful, my leg 
getting stirrer every minute. What worried me more 
than the pain of my wound was the fear that some 
party of the enemy, more venturesome than they com- 
monly were, might attempt to search the woods for us, 
and I knew if they did that I would be unable to save 
my master from capture or perhaps death. 

Some people think and say that a horse's sense is 
very limited, and that they have no gratitude. Those 
people don't know anything concerning the nature of a 
horse. For I solemnly assure you that I did not for 
one minute think of my own pain or probable fate that 
miserable long afternoon hidden in those old Virginia 
pines. I had often heard the men say, when I was on 
mounted skirmish line, during a battle, "will the sun 
never go dozvn." I did not understand then what they 
meant; but I fully understood it that afternoon. At 
last the sun sank in the west, and as soon as it was dark, 
my master mounted me and said, "Now, my boy, let us 
get out of this country, cross Cedar Run, and then for 
a good feed of oats and hay for you, and a good supper 

92 



for myself at Mr. Cooper's." But "alas! alas! for 
poor Yorick." I found, as I fully expected 1 , that I 
could not put my right hind leg to the ground, and that 
it felt perfectly useless to me. My master sprang from 
my back and said, "Poor fellow, you have been suffer- 
ing all this time and I did not know it." And he led 
me every step of the way that night, letting down every 
fence for me, so I could step over it without paining 
my leg. We directed our course towards the Mar- 
stella house. On arriving there I got a plentiful feed 
and my master supper. We left there about 9 o'clock 
that night, to go to the house of a citizen named Wil- 
liams, who was keeping a Yankee horse of my master's 
for him. By the time he had led me there, I was "dead 
lame" and used up, and could not have gone a quarter 
further. He charged Williams, who knew me well, to 
take the best of care of me, and above all not to allow 
the enemy to get me ; also to bathe my leg twice a day, 
he doing the same for me before he left that night ; and 
then turning me into a nice pasture, he bade me "Good- 
bye," and mounting his Yankee horse, disappeared in 
the darkness in the direction of Catletts. Here I re- 
mained about ten days, becoming very uneasy concern- 
ing my master ; but I was going through such exciting 
times myself, that it prevented me from worrying as 
much as I otherwise would have done. I knew some- 
thing had happened to prevent his return, for he prom- 
ised to be back in five days certain. 



93 



CHAPTER XLIII. 

I will now relate what befel me at this place, and 
then explain what had detained my master. The 
morning after I arrived here, Williams dressed my 
wound, and after bathing my leg nicely, as he had 
promised, said to me (he had often heard my master 
talking to me, and I suppose he thought I was conver- 
sant with the human language), ''Arab, your master 
seems 'to set great store on you,' and I wont turn you 
out where you staid last night, but will take you to a 
pasture I own back in the pines, that the Yankees have 
never found, and never will find." Of course, I could 
not reply, though understanding every word he 
uttered ; but I will tell you what I thought and it was 
this : My good friend, you have a different opinion of 
them than I have — "for my private opinion, publicly 
expressed," is, that they can find anything they set 
their heads to look for. And I am still convinced of 
that opinion to this late day. Well, he took me some 
distance down a path, through the pines, and turned me 
into a small pasture, surrounded by a dense growth of 
pines. Here I remained several days, Williams bring- 
ing me plenty to eat, and getting plenty of good graz- 
ing, walking around when I was full trying to recover 
the use of my leg. For I knew my master would 
have use for me very soon, audi I was as anxious as he 
was to pay the debt we owed Mr. Yankee for shooting 
me. 

About the third day I was put here, I was peacefully 
grazing about noon, not even thinking of a Yankee, 
when I heard horses' feet on the opposite side of the 
pasture, and looking in that direction, I saw about ten 
or twelve blue-coated gentlemen riding towards me, 
and looking beyond them, I saw a larger squad. I 

94 



knew in an instant who they were, and in five minutes, 
although I only had three legs to carry me, I was in the 
pines, and doing as I had been taught, sought the thick- 
est place I could find in my great hurry. They fol- 
lowed me, as usual, only to the edge of the woods, not 
with the demand, surrender, but "Whoa, whoa." Of 
course, I paid no attention to fellows dressed in blue 
with yellow facings. I remained concealed here until 
nearly sun-set, when I saw my host walking around the 
woods and looking in every thick place, evidently look- 
ing for some one. I laughed to myself, and wondered 
if he was looking for Arab; I also wondered if he 
thought that I had sense enough to hide from the 
enemy. I waited until he got opposite my thicket and 
I hobbled out, as unconcernedly as if nothing had hap- 
pened. The 'man seemed perfectly "dumb- founded," 
and he walked around me several times, looking me all 
over. Suddenly he exclaimed, "Well, your master 
said you knew a Yankee better than he did, but I did 
not believe it ; but now I will believe anything he tells 
me in regard to you. 'Indeed, indeed, double deed/ I 
will." He had a halter in his hand, and after some 
hesitation he put it on me. He looked like he was 
afraid of me, still he talked to me, as he led me along. 
"I am going to carry you and tie you in the thicket back 
of my house," he said. "Them — con — sarned blue- 
b — s have never found this pasture before, but they 
have found it now, and will come back again." He 
laughed aloud, and then said, "Those Yankees did not 
know what to think about your running away from 
them. When they came to the house, one of them said 
to me, "What kind of a d — d old grey horse, on three 
legs, was that we got a glimpse of in your pasture ? If 
he keeps on running like he did, when we last saw him, 
he is in Washington City by this time." He said he 

95 



professed perfect ignorance of any "grey horse" being 
in his pasture. Said they did not know what to think 
of it, and finally rode off. One of them remarking to 
the other, "Don't you know that d — d old lying Secesh 
would not tell you the truth." 



CHAPTER XLIV. 

Some days later my master returned. My leg by 
this time was nearly well, as regards the stiffness, and 
I believe the race the "Yanks" gave me helped to make 
it so. My master on his return was riding a new 
Yankee horse, and I noticed immediately how thin and 
badly my master was looking. That afternoon while 
he was examining my condition, and Williams stand- 
ing near, giving him the most remarkable account of 
my sense and sagacity, he noticed me observing him 
very closely. So he related to me the following story 
of his adventures while he had been away. 

He said, "Arab, the adventures I experienced the 
night I left you here, as well as those of the following 
day, beat all that I have ever experienced in the war. 
After parting from you the night you were wounded, 
I crossed the Orange and Alexandria Railroad near 
Bristow. It was as dark as Egypt, and the videttes 
did not see or halt me. After crossing, I had just 
entered that long lane (you remember it, I know), near 
Dr. Osborne's house. The gate is at the lower end of 
the lane, with a fence on each side. I had just reached 
the gate and was feeling for the latch in the intense 
darkness, when I heard a horse shake himself on the 
opposite side, and the sabre rattle." He said he knew 
in an instant that they were Yankees, and had heard his 
horse's feet approaching, perhaps, when they halted to 

96 



open the gate ; so they remained quiet, hoping he would 
ride upon them in the darkness, and they would capture 
him. He says he drove the spurs in his Yankee horse 
and escaped, encountering and running into three more 
scouting parties of the enemy before he reached Mr. 
Cooper's, a distance of three miles from the lane. Said 
when he arrived at the house, tired, worn out, and 
nearer demoralized than he had ever been, he turned 
his horse in a small clover field adjoining the dwelling, 
and asked the old gentleman to wake him at daylight, 
so he could get his horse and go to the pines. The 
daughters, as customary when the Yankees were en- 
camped near, bringing out food for man and horse. 
Said the next thing he knew after retiring to bed it 
was daylight, and he heard some one calling from the 
stairs, "Get up, Sergeant, a whole regiment of Yankees 
are advancing up the avenue to the house." He hur- 
ried on his clothes and ran down stairs, and sure 
enough, they were in fifty yards of the house. 

Said he knew it was no use attempting to get his 
horse. He started to go out the back door to hide in 
the garden, when looking in the direction of Mr. James 
Howison's, in the rear of the house, he saw another 
body of the enemy advancing. Said he had just made 
up his mind to go to the old Capitol prison, when the 
two girls called to him and said, "Come with us; we 
will hide you in our bed-room." Up stairs he followed 
them to their bed-chamber, he proposing to go up the 
chimney, but they objected, saying, "They are up to 
that dodge," and they hastily proceeded) to pull off the 
two beds from the bedstead. 

It being warm weather, the feather-bed was under- 
neath ; they threw the mattress back on the bed-stead, 
and told him to get on it ; he did* so, and they put the 
feather-bed over him, spreading the bed-clothes and 

97 



arranging the pillows. Here was a nice predicament — 
clothes, 'boots, Texas spurs and a pair of Colt's army 
pistols around his waist. 

Thus accoutred, he awaited the coming of the 
dreaded foe. In a few minutes he heard their steps on 
the stairs. They soon entered the room, accompanied 
by the youngest daughter. She, brave girl, it appears, 
had asked the Colonel (Col. Fons worth, 8th Illinois 
Cavalry,) if he was going to search the house for one 
of Hampton's scouts that he said he knew was con- 
cealed there ; that he looked like a gentleman, and she 
begged that he would search their bed-chamber him- 
self. The Colonel, 'being a brave man and) a gentleman, 
agreed to do so, telling her to lead the way, the Colonel 
following with a detail of four men. They entered the 
room, looking the first place up the chimney, then in the 
closet and into several large trunks; then under the 
bedstead, but no "Reb." could they find 1 . About this 
time Miss Belle (the young lady) imagined 1 she saw 
the bed slightly moving, and she advanced to the foot 
of the bed, leaning on it, and placing her arm or hand 
on the cover. The Colonel then advanced to the head 
of the bed, facing the young girl, and resting his left 
elbow on the pillow (directly over his face), and com- 
menced questioning her concerning Hampton and 
Mosby's scouts. My master said they did not con- 
verse more than a few minutes, but that it seemed to 
him hours, and that how the Colonel did! not hear the 
beating of his heart, was surprising to him. 

Soon they left the chamber, the young girl asking 
permission of the Colonel to lock the door, which she 
did. But unfortunately for the one between the beds, 
he did not hear it, so he lay there sweltering with the 
intense heat. For he could hear the private soldiers 
in the room across the head of the stairs, and he was 

98 



looking every minute for another visit. Not yet real- 
izing his providential escape. 

Says he laid 1 as quiet as a mouse until the Yankees 
left, when the girls rushed up to the room and released 
him from his safe but uncomfortable position. He 
looked out the window and saw them going up the 
avenue, a man at the rear of the column leading his 
Yankee horse — for they got his horse, saddle, bridle 
and overcoat. But he was truly thankful they did not 
get him. He remained at the house all day, several 
different parties of the enemy visiting it, but not 
searching it again (as he had rightfully surmised). 
He left there the next morning on foot, and had not 
proceeded far, when he met Barney Henegan — who 
had just had his horse captured. That night they cap- 
tured two Yankees, mounted on splendid horses. He 
then came to see about old Arab. 



CHAPTER XLV. 

Before I proceed relating my further adventures, I 
will give you the sequel of our scout with Major 
Mosby (the first and last). As I have stated, the 
enemy recaptured all the prisoners and nearly all the 
horses, killing and capturing several of Mosby's men ; 
one of them killed in front of the house was a Texas 
scout, named Templeton, a brave and gallant man, as 
the Texans generally were. 

Mickler lost several men killed, wounded and cap- 
tured, among the former was the brave young Gillespie 
Thornwell, who died before they could get him to 
Washington City, much to the regret of us all, espe- 
cially Gen. Wade Hampton (when he heard it), for I 
heard that he had been placed under his especial care. 

LofC. QQ 



The gallant boy, I heard him tell one of the scouts, 
the morning we left Warrenton C. H., that he was sick ; 
in fact, saw him leaning over his horse's neck vomit- 
ing. But when the charge on the junction was ord- 
ered, the brave boy forgot his sickness, and only re- 
membered that he was a South Carolinian. Brave and 
gallant Gillespie Thornwell, "peace to your ashes." 

Now, before I proceed with my life as a scouting 
horse, I must go back and tell you of a scout I was on 
with Gen. Hampton, which I have omitted. I think it 
was about the last week or day in November previous 
to the battle of Fredericksburg. I can't omit it, for we 
had a glorious time, if it was freezing. 



CHAPTER XLVI. 

Gen. Hampton crossed the Rappahannock River 
about 3 P. M., below Fredericksburg, and struck across 
towardis Dumfries, via Trenniss' Cross Road or store. 
We reached the latter place about nightfall. The 
General had with him detachments from each regiment 
in 'his brigade, and the entire 2d South Carolina Cav- 
alry (or nearly so), Col. Butler in command. My 
master was Sergeant in command of the advance 
guard, and just before we reached Trenniss' Cross 
Road, a courier from Gen. Hampton brought an order 
to him to halt there, and put out videttes on the three 
different roadis, one leading to Dumfries, one to Staf- 
ford's Store, and the other to Manassas. 

The General and staff had their supper at the Tren- 
niss house. We rested here until after midnight, the 
men not allowed to build fires, the saddles remaining 
on our backs, the wind blowing the very icicles itself, it 
seemed. Well, off we started for old Dumfries. We 

100 



heard at Trenniss that there was at least two picket 
posts between the two places. 

Every now and then a courier would ride up and tell 
the Sergeant in command, Gen. Hampton says, "Don't 
allow any prisoners to escape, to give the alarm. When 
you come on their pickets, don't fire a shot, if you can 
possibly help it. Says he depends on the advance 
guard/' 

I assure you it was an awful cold, bitter, freezing 
night. I pitied the poor men, 'moving along in the 
darkness, with their pistols in their hands, for every 
second they expected to encounter the enemy on post. 
I heard several of the men say that their hands stuck 
fast to their pistols. I have often wis'hed for hands 
like men ; but that night I was perfectly satisfied with 
having four feet and no hands. 

We pushed steadily forward, not seeing or hearing 
the least sign of the enemy. One of the guard remark- 
ing, "Surely it can't be too cold for those 'ice birds,' 
for cold weather is their natural element." We had 
now arrived in a short distance of Dumfries, our old 
camp ground of 1861. 

Now a courier approached and told the Sergeant: 
"The General says, when you reach a certain hill over- 
looking the town, halt until he comes up." The order 
was obeyed when we reached the well remembered hill. 
Soon the General approaches and halts the column, giv- 
ing the officers orders to form tfheir men for a charge 
(Col. Butler's regiment is in the front). This order 
being obeyed, the General gives the order, "Draw 
sabres," and led the charge (the advance guard still in 
the front), the whole command dashing down the hill. 
If dashing it could be called — trying to get down that 
high clay hill south of Dumfries, at a gallop — for it 
was not only wet and boggy, but it was frozen over, 

101 



from top to bottom. Hampton's men "Got there, 
though," as they always did. 

The only lights we could see as we entered the old 
town, was from the ho'tel, where the Federal officers 
had their headquarters. The Sergeant of the advance 
guard got up first to the top of the hotel, and captured 
and pulled down the United States flag, flying there, 
presenting it to his Colonel, M. C. Butler. 

Several officers and surgeons were captured here, 
besides several squadrons of Yankee cavalry encamped 
in the town. The officers and surgeons quartered in 
the hotel were a surprised set of men. I heard they 
were nicely "fixed off," their rooms elegantly fur- 
nished, "and buffalo robes lying around loose/' I also 
heard that nearly every room had a bottle or two of 
brandy on the tables, and I know tfhey did not remain 
tjhere long after Hampton's half frozen troopers en- 
tered. 

This fact can be vouched for by hundreds who were 
present that night : that although it was over thirty 
miles inside of their lines, that it was so cold, that the 
enemy had no pickets out that night. 

We did not remain here long. The advance guard 
was ordered to proceed in the direction of the town of 
Occoquon — and what a glorious and grateful sight 
greeted us when we reached the high hill overlooking 
the town. As far as the eye could see, on the Colches- 
ter side of the river, was a long line of white-top army 
wagons, with four good mules attached to each wagon. 
What a sight for hungry, half-naked Confederate sol- 
diers, and they knew when they saw these army 
wagons, there were sure to be sutler wagons also. 

The town of Occoquon is on the south side of the 
river of the same name. The flat or ferry boat by 
which the enemy were crossing their wagons over was 

102 



on the north side of the river. We coming from the 
south side, and by the only road leading to the village 
from that side. 

Directly opposite Occoquon is Coldhester, on the 
north side of the river. A public road leads from 
Alexandria to Colchester. The road the wagon train 
was approaching on, from the former place, strikes the 
river about opposite the road we were on. The two 
roads then run parallelled a distance of nearly a half 
mile — one on the north side, the dther on the south side 
of the river. 

After capturing the flat and bringing it on our side 
of the river, Gen. Hampton sent a detail of dismounted 
men across to proceed to the rear of the wagon train, 
and to keep a lookout for the enemy, in the direction of 
Alexandria ; another detail was put to work getting the 
wagons across as speedily as possible. For we were 
convinced that help would soon arrive to assist the 
enemy, as so many of the wagon escort had escaped and 
taken the road back to Alexandria. By the time we 
had ferried across half of the train, we heard the detail 
in the rear skirmishing with the enemy. Then the 
General ordered the wagon train fired, bringing over 
all the teams possible. 

The enemy came out with a large force and soon the 
detail was driven back — pretty hurriedly at that, for 
Ebe Smith, of 'Co. H, had to jump in the river and 
swim across. The advance guard was now ordered 
by Gen. Hampton to act as rear guard; and the Gene- 
ral's last words to the Sergeant in command was, "Sink 
the flat, at all hazards." That looked to me, who was 
tied near by, like it was going to be pretty difficult 
work, with only two old wornout axes to perform the 
work. But the Sergeant, assisted sturdily by Sergeant 
Mickler, went to work with a will, and in a short time, 

103 



although it was still very cold, I could see the perspira- 
tion pouring like rain from each one of them. This 
was another time I wished for hands to help the men 
cut that hole in the bottom of that tough old flat. The 
balls, too, from the enemy on the opposite side, com- 
menced flying around, much "too close for comfort/' 
Before they could sink the flat, we horses had to be 
moved to a place of safety, back of a small house near 
at hand. The men then returned to their work, and 
after a considerable legth of time (it seemed to me), 
succeeded in sinking the flat. 

Now what I was dreading, I soon realized' — for I 
am a horse of sense, and always look ahead. The Gen- 
eral, with the command, had followed the captured 
wagons. We (the rear guard) were to follow the 
column wrien the work ordered had been accomplished. 
We had to pass for some distance directly opposite the 
long blue line of horsemen sitting on their horses, on 
the other or north side of the river, with their Sharp's 
carbines across their saddles. Well, it was either that 
or surrender — that was the only way we could retreat. 
The bank to the right of the road was fifty feet high, 
and no road north except the one that crossed the ferry. 
Talk about hearing bullets whistle. If you had been 
there that day, you would thoroughly understand how 
they do whistle and sing also. Oh ! gracious, did not 
those half dozen men and 'horses "make themselves 
small," and get up that road towards Payne's store in 
a hurry. Fortunately, not a man or horse was 
wounded. But I have always felt satisfied of this fact, 
that we could not have done it a second time with the 
same result. We succeeded in getting the prisoners 
and wagons safely across the Rappahannock, in Gen. 
R. E. Lee's lines ; and I heard that Gen. Hampton was 
enabled to give Gen. Lee some very important informa- 

104 



tion. I can vouch for this fact, that we captured and 
brought off the principal part of the Christmas sup- 
plies of the General commanding the Federal Army, 
Gen. Ambrose Burnside — for I can read, and I saw 
his name on the wagon as well as on the boxes. 



CHAPTER XLVII. 

Now, since I have had to go backwards to indite this 
incident, I have called to mind a dozen or two more, 
besides several severe little fights and skirmishes I was 
engaged in. But I will only relate one of them, con- 
cerning the coolness and bravery of Barney Hennegan. 

One afternoon, Sergt. Mickler, Barney Hennegan, 
and my master were riding along in company, down 
near the Stafford line. Just before sun-set they started 
across a field for a house. I suppose, to get some in- 
formation concerning the enemy's scouting parties. 
Billy, the sergeant's horse, cleared the fence; I, of 
course, did the same; but Barney's horse "was not 
equal to the occasion." The two others rode on to- 
wards the house, leaving Barney pulling down the 
fence. The two had nearly reached the house, when 
they heard Hennegan calling their names, one after 
another. We all look back, and this is what we saw : 
Three horses and three men, instead of one — Henne- 
gan and horse in the middle of the trio, with his long 
arms around the necks of the men on his right and left, 
trying to pull them off their horses. We were back to 
him in a minute ; but by that time the horses of the 
Yankees had swerved to each side, and he had a man 
hanging to each side of his horse. This is the tale he 
told us : 

"I had just pulled down the fence and led my horse 

105 



over and remounted him (for he never put up a fence), 
when I heard horses' feet, and looking back saw these 
two Yankees. By the time I had looked around they 
were beside me, one on each side and both questioning 
me as to what command I belonged to. It flashed 
through my mind in an instant, that the only chance 
for me, was to pull them off their horses. I did so, and 
here they are." 



CHAPTER XLVIII. 

We had a ''resting spell" after the unlucky scout 
with Maj. Mosby, occasionally going down to Prince 
William on a scouting expedition and returning to the 
beautiful valley; for "our friends, the Yankees," done 
as they threatened to do, "Made the country too hot 
for us" — at least, we could only remain there a day or 
two at a time. 

I remember on one occasion, on making a scout 
down there at this time, we were concealed in a dense 
thicket of pines, 'between Bristow Station and Catlett's, 
watching the railroad, to see from the numbers of the 
enemy if there was any chance to make a dash upon 
them. Two different squads had passed us, but with 
such a superior force that there was no chance for us, 
with our small squad. As we were about leaving, 
some one said, "Here comes another detachment." 
And when they got opposite to us, one of the men said 
to Sergt. Mickler (Hennegan, I think), "Look, Ser- 
geant, at that officer on the right, at the head of the 
column — don't you recognize him?" All of us looked 
closely in the direction indicated, and readily recog- 
nized in the would-be Yankee Major, Burke, the Texas 
scout of Gen. R. E. Lee. All of us knew Burke inti- 

106 



mately for some months previously. He had been 
with Sergeant Mickler on several different expeditions 
down in the "Forest." On one of these scouts, Burke 
and Hennegan came very near having a serious diffi- 
culty. Sergt. Mickler, with Burke, Hennegan and my 
master, had captured a squad of the enemy. In the 
division of the spoils, Burke and Hennegan both 
wanted the same Yankee horse. What a time the two 
other scouts had to keep them from fighting. Both 
men were as "brave as Julius Caesar," and both men of 
ungovernable temper, when aroused. How they did 
walk up and down before each other, their black eyes 
flashing sparks of fire, and talking "for dear life." For 
both were lawyers, at least, Burke was, and if Henne- 
gan was not, "he had missed his calling." Finally 
Mickler made them draw straws for the disputed 
horse, and Hennegan got the horse. They then shook 
hands, and were ever afterwards bosom friends. 

I heard Burke say once soon after we saw him in 
company with the enemy, "That he had three passes' — 
one from Gen. Robt. E. Lee, one from Gen. Meade, 
Chief in command of the Federal army, and another 
from Gen. Pleasanton, in command of the Union Cav- 
alry. 

CHAPTER XLVIII. 

I wish I could describe the beautiful country where 
we were at this time, "spending our rest days," but you 
know, I am only a horse, and though I can admire the 
beautiful, I cannot describe it on paper; but if you have 
never visited the "Old Dominion," try and do so, and 
you will be repaid. By traveling over those beautiful 
hills and valleys, in the Valley of Virginia ("The 
Garden Spot of the World"), Paris — just above where 

107 



we staid at the Gibson's (and were always welcome) — 
was on the summit of the Blue Ridge, overlooking the 
two valleys. Going north from Paris, you would 
cross the Shenandoah River, and you would enter the 
Shenandoah Valley. Loudon, Fauquier, Luray, Alber- 
marle, Page. How many different times I have tra- 
versed them, and the beautiful scenery will never be 
forgotten by me — not that I do not love, and will never 
forget, old Prince William and Stafford, and the peo- 
ple who were so kind and true to us all, and who 
over and often divided the last peck of corn to give me 
a feed ; still they can't compare in point of scenery with 
the beautiful counties in the valley. Now, as regards 
hospitality and kindness to the soldiers of the Confed- 
eracy, no people in any county in Virginia, or else- 
where, could surpass them. Half way between the 
Gibson residence and Paris — in fact, in sight from 
either place — was Triplett's still (the largest, I heard, 
in Virginia) . What they stilled there I could not posi- 
tively say. I only know this fact, that Ben used to 
mount one or the other of us horses every morning at 
sun-rise, and ride over there with a canteen or two 
around his neck. 

About this time, having captured a pretty large 
squad of the enemy, Sergt. Mickler and my master de- 
termined to go in with the detail, who were going to 
take the prisoners into our lines, and make a visit to 
their friends in camp, who they had not seen for some 
time. 



108 



CHAPTER XLIX. 

So after turning over the prisoners at the General's 
headquarters, they sought the headquarters of their 
regiment, the 2d South Carolina Cavalry, who were 
encamped at Brandy Station. 

Brandy Station and Stevensburg. I really don't 
think I can now recall how many different fights and 
skirmishes that I participated in at those two places. 
Let me see, if I can recall any dates. 9th of June, 
1863, first Brandy Station battle; 1st of August, 1863, 
second Brandjy Station battle, and I recall perfectly 
well two or three other fights there — both or all three 
of them, fought in the afternoon. The afternoon 
fights, Gen. Hampton was, I remember, in command 
of the first one, from this incident : My master had a 
new black hat spoilt by getting a Minie ball through 
the rim. We passed Gen. Hampton and staff on the 
road after the fight, and Adljt. Barker said to him, 
"Better the hat than the head, Henderson. ,, 

One of the other fights alluded to, Gen. Hampton 
was at home (wounded, I think), and Gen. P. M. B. 
Young was in command of the brigade (the former 
Colonel of the brave and gallant little Cobb Legion). 
After a pretty stiff and hard fight, late in the afternoon, 
I think, Gen. Young wanted to deceive the retreating 
enemy in regard to his force — at least, his artillery 
force — by the way he made Hart's Battery and a Vir- 
ginia Battery fire and continue firing, I heard him order 
the officers in command of the pieces, "To keep on fir- 
ing until he gave orders to cease." 

I remember another little incident impressed on my 
mind that afternoon. There was a force of the enemy 
concealed in a piece of woods, "picking off" the men of 
Hart's Battery, which we were supporting. Lieut. 

109 



John C. Davant (of the old Beaufort District Troop, 
now Co. B), who had* been recently promoted Lieu- 
tenant in Co. B, 2d South Carolina Cavalry, asked per- 
mission of our Colonel, T. J. Lipscomb, to take his 
company, charge the woods and dislodge the enemy's 
sharp-shooters. His request was refused, but if it had 
been granted, he was the man to boldly lead them — 'for 
if I am not mistaken, he rather liked fighting, especially 
a cavalry charge. 

After this long and perhaps tedious digression from 
our visit to the camp of the 2d South Carolina Cavalry, 
I will resume the account of it. It must have been 
about the 6th or 7th of June, for we spent a day or two 
in camp, and hearing that Gen. R. E. Lee was going to 
review all of Stuart's cavalry on the 8th, Sergt. Mick- 
ler concluded to stay and participate in the review of 
Stuart's ten thousand cavalry. 



CHAPTER L. 

Ten thousand cavalry on one field. What a sight! 
And where is the horse in this country that has ever 
beheld such a review, much less taken part in it, as 
Arab did. We were formed early in the morning of 
the 8th, on those extensive plains which stretch from 
Culpeper C. H. to Rappahannock Bridge. No where 
else in the State of Virginia could a more suitable place 
be found to review ten thousand horsemen. Gen. 
Robt. E. Lee, accompanied by his daughter, and all of 
his Infantry Generals of note, with their Staff Officers, 
rode up and then down the long lines of cavalry, 
formed by regiments and brigades. Then they took 
position in our front, we passing in review by regi- 
ments — first at a walk and again at a charge; and if 

110 



my memory serves me arig'ht, there were several men 
injured, if not one killed, in the charge. It took nearly 
the entire day to complete the review ; and many a 
time in the future I regretted it did not take longer — 
for if it had lasted, perhaps, until night, the different 
brigades and divisions, which were encamped at some 
distance, would not have been so far away the next 
day, when we that were encamped on the spot needed 
their help so badly. 



CHAPTER LI. 

The next day, the 9th of June, was fought one 
among the largest and most severe cavalry battles of 
the war. The Yankees crossed the Rappahannock 
River at "dawn of day," to see, I suppose, and ascer- 
tain correctly, what all that 'noise and fuss" was the 
day before. They advanced with an overwhelming 
force, infantry, as well as cavalry and artillery. Gen. 
Pleasanton was in command of the Federal cavalry at 
that period. He crossed the river at Beverley's and 
Kelley's Fords, and it looked at first like he thought he 
was going "straight to Richmond." But how he ex- 
pected such a result, my horse sense could not com- 
prehend — for I knew that in his front were the brigades 
and divisions of Wade Hampton, Fitz Lee, W. H. F. 
Lee, Robertson and Jones, composing Gen. J. E. B. 
Stuart's Cavalry Corps. Hampton's Brigade had to 
bear the 'brunt of the fighting for some time, each regi- 
ment doing the work of a brigade. The Little Cobb 
Legion, "covering itself with glory," and its gallant 
Colonel well meriting the Brigadier Generalship he 
soon after obtained. We soon got assistance and after 
a long and desperate "hand-to-hand fight," about sun- 
Ill 



set we succeeded in repulsing and driving the enemy 
back across the Rappahannock, they sustaining heavy 
losses in killed, wounded and prisoners. Our loss was 
also heavy. I heard, unofficially, six or seven hundred 
men. I have forgotten the loss of our regiment, but 
our gallant Colonel lost a leg and our brave Lieutenant 
Colonel his life. 

Col. M. C. Butler was 'sitting on his horse (old 
Bench-legs) at the head of his regiment, the command 
supporting a portion of Hart's Battery, when an officer, 
one of Gen. Jeb. Stuart's Staff, came dashing up, and 
commenced delivering an order from Gen. Stuart, 
when a shell bursting (for they were bursting all 
around and over us) between them, crushed Col. But- 
ler's leg, nearly tearing it off, d'isembowelling his horse, 
and mortally wounding the Staff Officer, the brave and 
fearless Capt. Farley, of South Carolina. 

Later in the day Lieut. Col. Frank Hampton, now in 
command of the regiment, was sent by Gen. Stuart in 
the direction of Stevensburg, the enemy being reported 
advancing from that place, via Kelley's Ford. Just as 
the regiment was turning the bend of the road in sight 
of Stevensburg, they met, directly in their front and in 
two hundred yards of them, a brigade of the enemy's 
cavalry. Col. Hampton had just given the order to 
the regiment, "Left about wheel," when he was shot. 
He turned his horse and rode some distance to the rear 
before he fell. He lived until late in the afternon, re- 
peatedly calling and perhaps sending for his brother, 
Gen. Wad'e Hampton ; 'but that devoted and unselfish 
Cavalier to the Southern Cause, could not, or would 
not, leave his post of duty, and he never saw his brother 
in life again. 



112 



CHAPTER LII. 

Soon after this the scouts were called in, for Gen. R. 
E. Lee had started on his second invasion of ''Yankee 
Land." It looked for awhile like the cavalry were 
going to be left in Virginia ; but soon Gen. Stuart con- 
centrated his cavalry, and leaving one brigade in Vir- 
ginia (Robertson's, I think), commenced his march 
towards Pennsylvania, via Fairfax C. H. 

Now my mind recalls another severe fight I was an 
humble actor in, previous to our starting on this trip, 
so I will recount it. The enemy not satisfied with their 
Brandy Station reconnoisance, and hoping to find out 
what the infantry part of Lee's army were doing, at- 
tempted another reconnoissance about eight or ten days 
later. Gen. Stuart, with the brigades of the two Lees, 
gave them a severe drubbing at Aldie. Two days 
afterwards they started on another, with a more pow- 
erful force. The enemy with this heavy force was 
evidently trying to ascertain where and what the in- 
fantry were doing, and where the main army was. 
They drove us steadily back all day. from near Bristow, 
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, to Upperville, 
a long way above the railroad. Though retreating, we 
fought them whenever we could find a position to make 
a stand. This was another day in my life that I wished 
for hands, as well as feet, to help the men pull down the 
rock fences, which seemed to literally cover this coun- 
try. They drove us back on our infantry, Longstreet's 
Corps, which was near Upnerville. There we "made 
a stand," and then drove them back over the same 
ground, capturing a great manv prisoners and horses, 
besides the killed and wounded. And, by the way, I 
heard one of the men say (of course, I can't vouch for 
the truth of it, but it is not improbable), that Gen. 

113 



Stuart was that day fighting his father-in-law, the 
Yankee General McCook. We lost in that day's fight 
one of our scouts and a member of Co. B (Beaufort 
District Troop), Cecil Johnson, a brave and daring 
soldier. He was a nephew of Leut. Col. Ben. Johnson, 
of the old Legion, who was killed at ist Manassas, and 
a son of the Rev. Richard Johnson, an Episcopal min- 
ister, who went out to Virginia with the Beaufort Dis- 
trict Troop in June, 1861. He had prayer with the 
company every morning after roll call, rain or shine; 
he also taught them the sword! exercise, and fought 
with them in every fight. I think "The Fighting Par- 
son," as he was called, loved fighting. Cecil Johnson 
was killed on the retreat, in the first part of the day. 
We had checked the enemy for awhile, and were giving 
them "Hail Columbia" with our artillery, our regiment 
supporting the pieces. Suddenly the enemy ceased fir- 
ing altogether — they were in a small body of woods, 
with a large plum thicket in front. Cecil asked per- 
mission of Col. Lipscomb to permit him to advance on 
the woods and find out if the enemy had fallen back. 
The Colonel gave him permission, ordering him to dis- 
mount and advance on foot, and make the observation. 
He did so, and we could see him cautiously approach- 
ing the thicket, his rifle at "the ready." Just about the 
time he got in a hundred yards of the place, we saw 
him raise his rifle and fire. The smoke from his rifle 
had not disappeared, when we saw him spring from 
the ground and fall backwards. At once they ad- 
vanced on us with a brigade; our artillery limbering 
up, barely escaped, our command following them in 
good order. 

While we were driving the enemy back in the after- 
noon, we passed over the same ground. We found 
that the Yankees had buried poor Johnson — or, more 

114 



probably, allowed the citizens to bury him — at a house 
near where he was killed ; and his father, our highly 
respected Chaplain, who was with us at the time, had 
the satisfaction of knowing that he was "put away 
decently." 

Cecil Johnson was buried under an apple tree, and I 
thought it so strange — for ever since the winter of 
1 86 1, the men had this joke on him: that he could eat 
more apples than any two men in the army, having at 
one time eaten eighty apples without moving "out of 
his tracks." He was a quiet, but a brave and daring 
soldier. He went to Virginia in that company of 
brave men, the Oglethorpe Light Infantry (from Sa- 
vannah, Ga. ), 8th Georgia Regiment. Corp. Huger 
Mickler, our brave scout who had recently been killed, 
also belonged to the same company and regiment, and 
they both fought with this command from First Ma- 
nassas to Sharpsburg, and were transferred to Beau- 
fort District Troop, at Martinsburg, Va., on the return 
of Lee's army from the first Pennsylvania invasion. 



CHAPTER LIU. 

Now I will resume our march towards Pennsylvania. 
I have already stated that we crossed the Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad, and marched towards Fairfax 
C. H. We passed through Brentsville and Bacon 
Race, and crossed the Occoquon River at Selectman's 
Ford, and then captured Fairfax C. H., where we 
found a small force and a large quantity of government 
stores, army and sutler wagons. 

When we left Fairfax C. H., it would take an abler 
pen than mine to describe the appearance of Stuart's 
Cavalry — some of the men dressed in broadcloth suits 

115 



and beaver hats, others with straw hats, new top-boots 
and buckskin gauntlets. Everything a Yankee sutler 
wagon contained was duly appropriated. On leaving 
this town, Gen. Stuart crossed the Potomac River at 
Seneca Falls, and advanced in sight of the spires of 
Washington City, capturing a large number of wagons 
and mules at a station on the railroad (I forget the 
name). From this station he sent a telegram to the 
Yankee Quartermaster, Meigs, in Washington City, to 
send him more wagons. He then moved! forward, en- 
tering Pennsylvania, and passing through Westminster 
and Carlisle, arrived at Gettsyburg late on the night of 
the second day's fight. On the third day, we took part 
in the fight, and saw the closing scenes of that memora- 
ble three days' battle. Here we lost another member 
of Hampton Scouts, Sergt. Tom Butler, of Co. I 
(Edgefield Hussars), a younger brother of our Colo- 
nel, M. C. Butler. In the afternoon, we witnessed the 
charge of the gallant Gen. Pickett's Division, composed 
of the flower of old Virginia, and led by such heroes as 
Pickett, Armistead, Kemper, Garnett, Wilcox and 
Pettigrew. We could see them, as if on dress parade, 
move down the hill and commence the ascent of Ceme- 
tery Heights. 

"Steady they step adbwn the slope, 

Steady they climb the hill, 
Steady they load, steady they fire, 

Marching right onward still." 

After they got about half way up the hill, the smoke hid 
them from our view, for hundreds of pieces of cannon, 
besides musketry, were playing upon them from the 
heights. The next we saw of the brave troops, was as 
they returned in squads of a dozen or less. But I 
heard some of our company affirm (and I believe it) 

116 



that they saw the flag of "The Old Dominion" floating 
for awhile on the heights of Cemetery Ridge. Don't 
tell me of the charge of the "Six Hundred," at Bala- 
klava. It can't compare with that last "Grand Charge" 
at Gettysburg. 



CHAPTER LIV. 

We remained on the battle field all of the next day, 
and fell back the day following— Gen. Meade (who 
had superceded "Fighting Joe Hooker") slowly follow- 
ing, towards the Potomac. We reached Williamsport, 
on 'that river, in a day or two. While there we had 
several severe cavalry fights. In one of them, at 
Boonsboro (I think), our brave leader, Gen. Wade 
Hampton, was severely wounded, receiving several 
serious sabre cuts in his head. We were compelled to 
remain here eight or ten days before we could cross the 
Potomac; for from the constant rains, the river had 
risen until it was impossible to cross it, and we had no 
pontoon bridges, like our friends, the Federals. It 
looked to me, horse as I am, that it was a good oppor- 
tunity for Gen. Meade to capture Gen. Lee's army. But 
my private opinion was, and always will be, that their 
army was worse crippled than the Confederate army. 

We once more entered Virginia, and I assure you I 
was very glad to return ; and so was everybody else, 
man and horse, for rations were very, very scarce; for 
Gen. Lee had a small army of prisoners to feed, besides 
his own army, and we could get nothing to eat from 
the Virginia side of the Potomac. The army crossed 
the Potomac, some at Williamsport, and a portion at 
Falling Waters, on "some sort of a bridge," that had 
been fixed for the artillery to cross on ; and to the sur- 

117 



prise of all, there was no fighting; and more surprising 
still, no efforts made to hinder the crossing of the Con- 
federate army. 



CHAPTER LV. 

The Army of Northern Virginia now took nearly the 
same position occupied by them after the first invasion 
of Pennsylvania — from the Potomac back to Winches- 
ter, Darksville, Bunker Hill, Big Spring, Martins- 
burg — were the camping grounds of different regi- 
ments, brigades and divisions. While encamped here, 
Gen. Fitz. Lee had a severe engagement with a large 
force of the enemy's cavalry, 'beyond Martinsburg, at 
Kellyville, or perhaps Kearneysville. He routed them, 
after a stubborn fight, and drove them across the Po- 
tomac. Gen. Meade now endeavored to cut off Gen. 
R. E. Lee from Richmond, as McClellan had done in 
1862. But he missed it, as signally as the "Young 
Napoleon" did. 

On leaving the Valley for Culpeper, the high waters 
of the Shenandoah River delayed us a day or two; but 
a pontoon was procured and thrown across the river, 
for the infantry and artillery to cross over on. Of 
course, cavalry don't need pontoon bridges to cross 
rivers, especially cavalry like Gen. J. E. B. Stuart's. 
We passed through Chester Gap, and reached the 
neighborhood of Culpeper C. H. about the last of the 
month, Hampton's Brigade taking up nearly the same 
quarters they had occupied previous to June the 9th. 

On the 1st day of August, the enemy crossed the 
Rappahannock at the railroad bridge and Beverley's 
Ford, driving in our pickets, and following in close 
pursuit, and were nearly in our camps before we were 

118 



aware of their approach. We horses were saddled in 
hot haste, and mounted in an instant. We soon met 
the enemy and checked their hurried advance. But we 
were compelled to fall 'back before the overwhelming 
numbers opposed to us. We fell back towards Cul- 
peper C. H., where we knew we would' find assistance. 

My master had been detailed by Maj. T. E. Screven, 
of the 2d South Carolina Cavalry, Sergeant command- 
ing the mounted skirmishers. ''Load, fire and fall 
back," was the routine of the mounted skirmishers, for 
several miles, regiment after regiment taking their 
turn to charge an entire brigade of the enemy, and 
checking them at that, the mounted skirmishers several 
different times joining the regiments in the charge. 
One charge I remember especially, was with the Cobb 
Legion — for what man or horse could resist charging 
with the Cobb Legion, when they raised the "Georgia 
yell." And I noticed that they seemed to trust to the 
sabre alone to make the Yankees "Get up and git." 

When we arrived in sight of Culpeper C. H., Gen. 
Longstreet, who was stationed just beyond it, sent out 
a force of infantry to assist us — the first I saw of them. 
Now I am going to record it, just as it happened, 
"Honor bright." We, the mounted skirmishers, had 
just halted in a thick piece of woods, waiting, and glad 
to wait, too, to see what the next move of the enemy 
would be, when here came part of a regiment of in- 
fantry to our support, and, by-the-way, they were 
South Carolina infantry at that. Their first greeting 
to us was, "Get out of the way, Cavalry, and let the 
Infants get at them." About the time they com- 
menced forming, the Yankee Cavalry, not dreaming 
there was infantry in their front, made a dashing 
charge upon them, and to our surprise, the infantry 
broke and retreated as fast, or faster, than the cavalry 

119 



had ever done. Now was our time to get even with 
them, and the mounted skirmishers yelled to the In- 
fantry, to "Get out of the way and let the Cavalry get 
at them." It did not take many minutes to drive the 
enemy back, faster than they came, ably supported by 
the infantry, and we never left them until we had 
driven them across the Rappahannock River, killing 
and capturing a great many. By sun-set the last of 
them were on the north side of the river. 

We found out afterwards that the infantry alluded 
to above were a brave and' gallant body of men, having 
established their reputation on many a hard fought 
battle field. But, you see, they got demoralized, or 
stampeded — / know what that is myself, brave horse 
as I am. 

To convince you that this fight was no "child's play," 
I will give you the loss of our company, Co. B (B. D. 
T.) : Killed — Private Gibson (joined only the day be- 
fore) ; wounded seriously — Lieut. James W. Moore 
(now Adjutant of the Regiment), Lieut. A. M. Ruth, 
Privates Reeves (a Virginia recruit), Thurston, Bes- 
sellieu and Dave Sanders. The loss of the other com- 
panies of the 2d South Carolina Cavalry I disremem- 
ber, but I heard the loss of some of them exceeded Co. 
B. 

CHAPTER LVI. 

About six or eight weeks later, Gen. Meade made an 
advance on the Confederate army (hearing, I suppose, 
that Longstreet's Corps had been sent west). Gen. 
Lee fell back before Meade, to the south side of the 
Rapidan River. About the middle of October, Gen. 
Lee recrossed the Rapidan, and moved in the direction 
of Madison C. H. He had with him the entire army, 

120 



with the exception of Fitz. Lee's Division of Cavalry. 
Gen. R. E. Lee was moving around on Meade's right. 
At James City, Gen. Jeb. Stuart, with Hampton's Divi- 
sion, surprised and drove back Kilpatrick's Cavalry 
and force of infantry he had with him. We never 
ceased pursuit until we had driven them upon the main 
body of their army encamped around Culpeper C. H. 
Meade then fell back across the Rappahannock. Be- 
fore leaving, he sent a large force of cavalry to our 
former camps on the Rapidan. I suppose, to find out 
if Gen. R. E. Lee had taken his entire army with him to 
Madison C. H. The enemy's cavalry, under Buford, 
did not find Gen. R. E. Lee there; but they found his 
nephew, Gen. Fitz. Lee (Little Fitz, as the Virginians 
dubbed him,) there, with his division, and they drove 
the enemy back to Brandy Station, at a gallop. Here 
it was, at Brandy Station, the day following, in the 
afternoon, that I took part (as I have stated) in the 
third or fourth fight at this place. Two days after- 
wards we had a lively little fight at Jefferson, just 
across from the Warrenton Springs. We crossed over 
in the very face of their artillery, and drove them back 
to and through Warrenton C. H. 



CHAPTER LVII. 

A day or two after this, Gen. Jeb. Stuart started out 
on a scout or reconnoissance towards the Orange and 
Alexandria Railroad. When we got nearly to Cat- 
lett's Station, we met a corps of Yankee infantry. The 
General faced us about and started back. We had not 
retreated far on the road leading from Manassas to 
Warrenton when, "Lo and behold," here was another 
corps of Federal infantry, directly in our front. In 

121 



other words, we were completely "hemmed' in" between 
two large Yankee columns. The whole force of Gen. 
Stuart's was concealed in the woods as quickly as possi- 
ble, with strict orders not to talk, laugh, or even sneeze. 
It seemed to Arab that none of the men wanted much 
coaxing to keep quiet. Night slowly, very slowly, ap- 
peared, then it was a little better, but the Yankees had 
the audacity to encamp all around us, and how they did 
not enter the body of woods we were concealed in, I am 
unable to comprehend. I surmised this : That the 
corps encamped nearest our column did not pass us 
until just about dusk, and I suppose did not like the 
looks of the dark body of woods we were concealed in. 
We were heartily rejoiced they did not, though that 
night several of them entered the woods hunting fire- 
wood, and were captured — among them two of Gen. 
Meade's Staff Officers. Luckily for us, we had just 
entered this body of woods when the advance guard 
reported this second body of the enemy in our front. 
This was a predicament to be caught in. I suppose 
Gen. Stuart would have cut his way out with his horse- 
men, but he wanted to save his artillery, for he had ten 
or perhaps twelve pieces with him. Soon after we 
captured the prisoners I alluded to, Gen. Stuart made 
several of his Virginia troopers, who knew every foot 
of the country, don the uniforms and knapsacks of the 
wood-hunters we had captured, and started them afoot 
to Warrenton C. H., through the Yankee lines, bearing 
this message to Gen. R. E. Lee : 

"I am completely surrounded by the enemy, will you 
please send some of your people to help me out." 

What a night that was. It seemed to me it was for- 
ty-eight hours long. No saddles taken off, and, worse 
than that, nothing to eat. It was worse than fighting. 
As I heard one of the men say, when the order was ex- 

122 



tended, that no matches were to be struck : "What, all 
night without a smoke; I would rather fight all night, 
than to be deprived of smoking my pipe." Just after 
daybreak the next morning, the nearest body of Yan- 
kees to us, encamped on Cedar Run, commenced cook- 
ing their breakfast, and we could smell the bacon fry- 
ing and the coffee parching (and as I have already 
stated, I was fond of both). 

Suddenly we heard musketry in the direction of New 
Baltimore, and we knew that Gen. Lee had sent a force 
to "help us out." Gen. Stuart had his artillery ready, 
the pieces loaded with grape and canister. He imme- 
diately ordered them to "open fire" on the nearest camp 
of the enemy, and if you ever saw men run and leave 
their cooking in a hurry, it was that body of Yankees. 
I am sorry to say that we did not have time to get any 
of their breakfast, for Gen. Stuart ordered a charge 
through their lines, which was executed, and we soon 
joined our infantry in safety. 'The infantry proved to 
be a force under Gen. Ewell. 



CHAPTER LVIII. 

Our army then drove the army of the enemy across 
Cedar Run, and they fell back to Bristow Station. We 
did not follow them up the railroad, but went around 
to the left, passing through Greenwich, and then to- 
wards Bristow. Here in the afternoon Gen. A. P. Hill 
attacked Meade; and I think from what I saw and 
heard, our forces suffered very heavily. Still the 
entire Federal army fell back, after night, to Centre- 
ville. Lee's army in a few days commenced falling 
back towards the Rappahannock, tearing up every foot 
of the track of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad 

123 



from Cub Run to the Rappahannock River. Gen. 
Stuart, as usual, bringing up the rear with his cavalry, 
the Yankee cavalry slowly following. When we 
reached 1 Buckland, Hampton's Old Brigade had a 
pretty stiff little fight with them, Gen. Stuart being with 
the brigade. We then fell back to Warrenton. I 
heard Gen. Stuart did this to draw the enemy after us, 
so that Gen. Fitz Lee, who was on the Auburn Road, 
could come down in their rear. 

Sure enough, when we arrived in a short distance of 
Warrenton C H., we heard Fitz Lee's artillery to the 
rear. Gen. Stuart immediately turned on them with 
our brigade, and after an obstinate fight, we started 
them to run. Now the fun, and the "Buckland Races" 
commenced. We pursued them at full speed back 
through Buckland and then in sight of Haymarket, 
where we run into their infantry, and fell back, after 
killing and capturing quite a number. Gen. Fitz Lee 
pursued his portion of them by another road, to Gaines- 
ville, where they also had heavy infantry support. He 
also had to fall back and join Gen. Stuart, after inflict- 
ing a severe drubbing upon them. So ended the 
"Famous Buckland Races." 



CHAPTER LIX. 

Well, I have been writing history so long, that I 
must return to Arab and his personal adventures. The 
day after the event last narrated, my master was rub- 
bing me off, when an Orderly approached and said, 
"Sergeant, Gen. Young (commanding brigade) says 
report to him mounted." I was soon saddled, and to 
the General we went. We found him sitting at the 
foot of a tree enjoying a little rest. The General said, 

124 



"Henderson, I am feeling very badly and perfectly 
used up, and I think a little 'apple Jack' would help 
my feelings wonderfully. I know that you know every 
foot of this country, and I believe you are the man to 
find it for me." 

Now, reader, do you know what "apple Jack" is ? I 
think it must be some kind of medicine, and for this 
reason, that the General made the Orderly give the Ser- 
geant a Yankee canteen to get it in. 

The Sergeant asked the General, "When he would 
expect him back, and how long the brigade would re- 
main where it was." He answered the last question 
first. "I don't know how long we will remain here — 
that depends on the enemy's pursuit. As to your re- 
turn — get back as soon as you possibly can, for I need 
the medicine badly." We struck out across the country, 
and we had not gone far, before I formed my own ideas 
of where we were going. It became a certainty after 
leaving Weaversville, where he got the General's can- 
teen filled, and, strange to say, he got his own canteen 
filled with the same medicine. 

Long before sun-set we were at Mr. Cooper's hospi- 
table home, and I was soon in the stable, the manger 
full of nice timothy hay and the feed box with a half 
bushel of oats in it — and Yankee hay and oats at that. 
For Gen. Kilpatrick, of the Federal Cavalry, had just 
previously had his headquarters at Mr. Cooper's house, 
and had left behind a good store of everything nice for 
horse and man. The Yankees always had a plenty of 
everything in the world, except tobacco. How de- 
lighted they all were to see us at Mr. Cooper's after our 
long absence. It looked like they could not do enough 
for us. All three sisters accompanied my master to 
the stable when he came to feed me, and I thought will 
they never stop patting and talking to me, and allow 

125 



me to eat in peace this plentiful supply of oats and hay 
that the Yankees had left for me. 

After an early and hearty breakfast next morning, I 
was saddled, and the old gentleman insisted on tieing 
behind the saddle about a bushel of the nice Yankee 
oats. After a long talk and much kissing, we bade the 
family good-bye. Understand plainly, the kissing was 
performed by the Sergeant and not by Arab. We took 
our way back "from whence we came;" the Sergeant 
loaded down with a bran new Yankee haversack, filled, 
he said, with buttered biscuits, ham, cake, canned fruit, 
jelly, and a small jar of strained honey, etc. 

We had reached pretty near the place where we had 
left the brigade on the day previous and had got to a 
place on the road, with a row of cedar trees on each 
side, also a pretty stiff fence under each row of trees, 
when we saw off to our left in an open field, about 
eight or ten mounted men. They looked tolerably 
blue, but we had no idea they were Yankees. That is, 
the Sergeant did not, but I did. For as soon as I put 
my eyes on them, Iknew they were Yankee cavalrymen, 
and I tried every way in the world to* give my poor 
foolish master warning, but to no purpose. He several 
times asked me, "Arab, old boy, what are you snorting 
and smelling on the ground in this fashion for — do you 
think there are any Yankees around? Those are our 
men you saw across the field, and we are not far from 
where we left the brigade yesterday." 

We had not gone far, when on turning a bend of the 
road, we found ourselves facing a large column of Yan- 
kee cavalry. I wheeled around before he could scarcely 
touch the bridle, and to my great surprise, and his, too, 
I suppose, there was another squad in our rear, or in 
our front at that time. He rode me up the steep clay 
bank, south of the road, and "lifting" me with the 

126 



spurs, put me over the fence with a standing jump. 
And then away I was raced for the nearest woods, the 
enemy from both squads in close pursuit. They were 
so sure of capturing us, that they did not fire for some 
time. But I had not eaten all that oats and hay for 
nothing, and I soon left them far behind me. Just be- 
fore I reached the woods, the enemy were firing at us 
in earnest, and I felt a sharp stinging pain in my right 
shoulder. This was my third wound from the Yan- 
kees. The second 1 wound was in my left shoulder ; and 
I have omitted relating this incident in my adventures, 
but will say that the wound was received in a fight at 
"Jack's Shop," in 1862. I well remember the name of 
the place, and I more than well remember the wound. 
Well, to return to my race for life and liberty and 
my third wound. We got safely in the woods, except 
the ball in my shoulder. But, fortunately, it did not 
lessen my speed. Neither did I lose a day's work from 
it. We had to remain in the woods until night. And 
now we both met with a sore disappointment, for my 
hay and oats was lost in the race (I have always 
thought my master cut them loose), and when he 
opened his new haversack, such a mass of biscuits, ham, 
cake, preserves, etc., well mixed with broken glass from 
the tumblers, he could not eat a mouth-full, neither 
could he give me any. I saw him take a little o'f the 
medicine out of his canteen (not the General's, for he 
saved both canteens from capture). After night we 
left the friendly woods and started towards Bealton 
Station, thinking we would cross the river at the old 
Railroad Bridge Ford. But the Yankees had posses- 
sion of it ; and we did not reach Gen. Young, on the 
south side of the Rappahannock, until late the next 
afternoon, for we had to go above Warrenton C. H. to 
cross the river. When we did at last reach Gen. 

127 



Young, he seemed glad to see us both; and said, "I 
thought you were on your way to the Old Capitol 
prison by this time. Clad, indeed, to see you back — 
have you got the medicine?" 



CHAPTER LX. 

Gen. R. E. Lee, after recrossing the Rappahannock 
with his army, took up position on the south side of the 
river, and on both sides of the Orange and Alexandria 
Railroad, the cavalry on each flank. The enemy pick- 
eting right opposite to us. But their main body was 
some distance back, beyond Bealton. Now occurred 
the usual routine of picket duty. About the middle of 
November, the enemy, I suppose, having rebuilt the 
railroad which we had destroyed, advanced and at- 
tempted to cross the river, at Rappahannock Bridge 
and Kelley's Ford. At the latter place some of our 
brigade (Hoke's and Hay's, I think,) had crossed over 
to the north side of the river, and taken up position in 
some old breastworks. The enemy advanced on them 
unawares, and killed and captured nearly the entire 
force; the balance escaped, I heard, by swimming to 
the south side of the river. After this little success, 
the enemy did' not attempt to cross the river ; but Gen. 
Lee fell back to his former lines beyond the Rapidan. 
Meade then crossed the Rappahannock, and took up his 
former lines on the north of the Rapidan. Gen. Lee 
now put his army in winter quarters, he having one of 
the strongest natural positions imaginable. The right 
of his army was at Morton's Ford, on the Rapidan — 
the left was — I can't say where, for it would take a 
smarter horse than Arab to do so. For it extended 
from Mine Run to Charlottesville and Frederick Hall. 

128 



There was a large detachment from our regiment, 2d 
South Carolina Cavalry, away up in Albermarle and 
Page Counties, recruiting horses, and I heard some bat- 
teries of artillery were beyond them. But Gen. R. E- 
Lee knew what he was doing. He always did.' 

About the last of November, Gen. Meade thinking, 
I suppose, Lee's army had gone into winter quarters 
rather soon, crossed over the Rapidan, at Germania 
and Eley's Ford, and advanced in the direction of Mine 
Run, via Chancellorsville. I thought to myself, Gen. 
Meade has forgotten what Joe Hooker caught in this 
country, called the Wilderness — for each familiar spot, 
name and place reminded me of the lamented Stone- 
wall Jackson, and what a brilliant flank movement he 
had achieved against Hooker. Chancellorsville, 
Orange Plank Road, Parker's Store, Robertson Tav- 
ern, Old Turnpike, Fredericksburg Plank, etc., each 
place reminding me of the old days of 1862. 

Late one afternoon there was severe fighting near 
Robertson's Tavern. A day or two later, Meade 
opened with his artillery on Gen. Lee's army, but ac- 
complished nothing, the army being so well protected 
by its natural fortifications on Mine Run. Meade then 
fell back to his former position, north of the Rapidan. 



CHAPTER LXI. 

This was the last engagement of this army, in 1863, 
and the last general engagement I had the honor of 
participating in. The Army of Northern Virginia, 
the Grandest Army in the world, and led by the Grand- 
est Hero that God ever let the sun shine on. 

About the middle of December, Hampton's scouts 
were sent back to Prince William County ; and I will 

129 



try and relate one or two incidents that happened there 
before I left the "Mother of States," the Old Dominion. 
After the return of the scouts to Prince William, seve- 
ral different parties of dismounted men from our regi- 
ment had been sent over to obtain horses, by capturing 
them from the enemy, guided by the scouts. After a 
goodly number had been mounted and sent back to the 
command, Lieut. John C. Davant came over to procure 
a mount — he having lost his horse, or having him 
killed, I forget which. The Lieutenant was mounted 
on a black mare, which was probably his servant's 
horse, and she was very thin indeed. One morning, a 
day or two after he came over, he and my master set 
out to capture him a horse. They crossed Cedar Run 
and went down in the "Forest," towards Stafford's 
Store. The first day they had "no luck," and the sec- 
ond day, hearing a party of Yankee officers were in the 
habit of coming out from Dumfries to Trenniss Cross 
Roads, to see the Trenniss girls, they thought that this 
was their chance to capture a good horse. For they 
knew by experience Yankee officers generally rode 
good stock, and the Lieutenant wanted a good horse, 
being a very particular man about what he rode, as 
well as everything else. There was such a marked 
difference between the condition and looks of your 
humble servant, Arab, and the mare the Lieutenant was 
riding, that my master left me at a citizen's house, 
where he had a tolerably fair Yankee horse, and set out 
that morning mounted on him. But the condition of 
this horse was something like the Lieutenant's mare, 
he also being very thin. Now this paft of the story 
that follows, I had from my master on his return. 

"Just before they reached the place where they hoped 
to make the capture, they stopped at a house to get 
some information, he told me." (But I am well as- 

130 



sured that it was to see some young ladies. For both 
he and the Lieutenant was very fond of talking with 
the girls.) "They were seated down in the piazze 
chatting away, when suddenly a Yankee regiment ap- 
peared in sight. Their horses were tied to the front 
fence. In a moment the ladlies (for one time) were 
forgotten, and they mounted and set off for the nearest 
woods. My master said the nearest body of woods 
was about a mile and a half from the house; but, for- 
tunately for them, audi their thin stock, it was 'down 
grade 1 nearly all the way, a very long steep hill ; but 
before they could reach the woods, there was a steep 
hill to ascend. 

"Away they went, he said, much faster than they 
supposed the two thin black horses could travel, the 
enemy in hot pursuit. He said they made splendid 
time going down the hill, the two horses 'side by side,' 
and I know those Texas spurs were doing duty in the 
sides of one of them. 

"Now they reach the bottom of the hill and com- 
menced the ascent of the other, striving to gain the 
shelter of the friendly woods, but before they had 
ascended half way, both the blacks had come down to 
'a long trot.' (Now I know who wished for Arab 
then.) Before they reached the woods the Yankees 
were in fifty yards of them, and were so sure of captur- 
ing them that they had ceased firing. My master said 
this was one time he was sure the enemy ivould follow 
them into the zvoods. 

"He was well acquainted with this piece of woods, 
having to conceal himself there once or twice in the 
past. He remembered that from where they would 
enter the woods there was a deep ravine, with thick 
undergrowth on each side. He told the Lieutenant to 
follow him, and they entered the ravine in a few min- 

131 



utes, and leaving their horses, followed the water- 
course on foot. After lying concealed for some time, 
they started back in the direction they had left their 
horses. 

''More for the purpose of keeping 'under cover' as 
they advanced towards the clearing, to see if the course 
was clear, than with the expectation of recovering their 
horses — for they felt sure the enemy had captured 
them, as they had to aban'don them just after entering 
the woods; but, to their surprise, they found the two 
blacks apparently enjoying a good rest, after their 
hurried race." 

When the Lieutenant returned to camp he carried 
with him a good horse, not one of the officers' horses 
he was after the day of the race, but a horse taken from 
a Yankee Sergeant they captured the following day. 
The most laughable incident to me concerning this 
race, was while my master was narrating the facts to 
me on their return (the Lieutenant standing close by), 
he said, "That when they commenced the ascent of the 
hill and their horses' speed had relaxed to a trot, his 
black took the lead and kept it. The Lieutenant, ex- 
cited by this fact, exclaimed, 'Don't leave me.' " Then, 
as I have stated, to my great amusement, the Lieutenant 
listening to the conversation, or rather relation of the 
story, said, "I think you are mistaken ; and, as I re- 
member it, it was my horse leading and you that ex- 
claimed, 'Don't leave me! " 



132 



CHAPTER LXI. 

Now I will relate an incident I took part in that hap- 
pened very near the scene of the last, and not many 
days afterwards. My master, in company with Hen- 
negan, Hogan, Shoolbread and another scout (have 
forgotten who), making five in all, were on a little 
scouting expedition in the Forest. They happened to 
ride up to Mrs. Maxfieldi's house, about 1 1 A, M., and 
found the enemy had paid the widow a visit that morn- 
ing and had just left, after robbing her of everything 
they could lay hands on — chickens, ducks, geese, bacon, 
flour, potatoes, and even her sheets and wearing ap- 
parel, etc. They told her they had heard that she had 
been feeding and harboring Hampton's scouts, and they 
intended breaking it up. And they did' it very success- 
fully, if taking and destroying all the poor widow 
owned, meant "breaking up." The daughter informed 
us that they had seven or eight in the squad. She said 
they had come from Dumfries, via Trenniss' Store, and 
had returned in the same direction, and that she felt 
sure they had only time to reach the latter place by this 
time. 

Hampton's men were aware that the squad must 
have come up from Dumfries, their nearest camp, that 
morning, and they knew they had a picket post between 
there and Trenniss Cross Road's ; they also felt assured 
that five of Wade Hampton's scouts couldi overtake and 
scatter twenty, much less eight, "chicken roost" sol- 
diers like them. Away we went for the Cross Roads, 
taking a near cut, a mile or two shorter than the route 
the enemy had taken, over fences and across fields at 
full speed' until we reached the Cross Roads. There 
we caught sight of them. They had just finished a 
chat with the Trenniss girls (good Yankees them- 

133 



selves), and started for Dumfries. Now the race com- 
menced 1 . 

Reader, if you have never seen what is called in "The 
Forest of Virginia," "a scatteration," you would have 
seen it that day on that road. We had barely started 
them before they commenced throwing away and cut- 
ting off articles tied to their saddies. The road was 
strewn with everything they had stolen. All they 
thought of was getting away from the "Johnnies." But 
only one out of the seven managed to get safely in their 
picket lines. The scouts killed two, wounded three 
and captured one, the seventh barely escaping, and if 
the outpost had been a mile further, he would have been 
captured. We ran him to the reserve picket post be- 
fore we left him. 



CHAPTER LXII. 

During the month of December, 1863, I found out a 
fact that I was not aware of before, and that was that a 
horse could be jealous as well as a human being. And 
this is how I found it out : My master was on a scout, 
accompanied by Joe Beck, one of Hampton's scouts, 
and 1 a Virginia scout, by the name of Thorne. We 
were below Grove Church in the vicinity of Mount 
Holly Church, not far from Kelley's Ford, on the Rap- 
pahannock. News had been brought to the scouts that 
the enemy were tearing down the ruins of the old 
church (Mount Holly), and hauling the brick across 
the river to make chimneys for their winter quarters. 
We three horses were concealed safely in the pines not 
far from the church, and the three scouts started on 
foot to find out what force of the enemy accompanied 
the wagons that were doing the hauling. Several 

134 



hours after we had been concealed and the men had left 
us, they returned, my master mounted on a beautiful 
roan horse, with brass-mounted saddle and bridle. 
From their conversation, I learnt that he had killed the 
Yankee officer, whose horse he was riding, and that the 
guard of infantry with the wagons, hearing the pistol 
shots, had fired on them and they had to leave in a 
hurry. 

As I have stated, from the conversation of the three 
scouts, as we were returning, the real facts of the inci- 
dent were these : ''That the three of them were con- 
cealed in sight of the church, watching the enemy load- 
ing the brick, and I am satisfied admiring the four 
sleek, fat mules attached to each wagon, when an offi- 
cer, accompanied by an Orderly, appeared on the scene, 
from the direction of Kelley's Ford. He rode up to 
the church and after conversing awhile with the guard, 
started down to the spring — perhaps, to get a drink of 
water before returning to camp. Now, to reach the 
spring, he had' to pass directly under and in a few yards 
of the three concealed scouts. They were on a high 
bank on the right of the path leading from the church 
to the spring. 'The path led down through this defile, 
cut through the middle of the hill with a high, steep 
bank on each side. Before the two Yankee's got op- 
posite to our three scouts, they had agreed to capture 
them, if possible — for I suppose they could not resist 
the temptation of the two fine horses. The Yankees 
advanced down the path leading their horses, the Or- 
derly leading the way. No sooner did they get oppo- 
site to the three scouts above them on the bank, than 
they were halted and ordered to surrender ; but instead 
of doing so, they both mounted their horses in an in- 
stant, the Orderly making his escape, although Thorne, 
the Virginia scout, fired both barrels of his gun at him, 

135 



loaded with buck-shot cartridges and not more than 
ten or fifteen steps. The brave Colonel, after mount- 
ing his horse, fired two shots at the scout above him, 
and was then himself killed by the scout. The Colo- 
nel's horse, strange to say (but not strange either, for 
I would have done the same), instead of following the 
horse of the Orderly, who had) passed the spring, and 
was going at full speed back towards his camp, stopped 
when he reached the spring, and looked back, appar- 
ently to see if his master was coming. The scout, 
after killing the officer, it appeared from the conversa- 
tion I heard from the three, as they rode along, fol- 
lowed the bank down to the spring and getting ahead 
of the horse, caught and mounted him, and then rode 
back to the spot where the dead body of the officer lay. 
Now, from the talk of the two scouts, Beck and 
Thorne, who had, immediately after Thome's fire on 
the Orderly, started to retreat to the woods ; but look- 
ing back they saw the other scout mounted on the offi- 
cer's horse and going back to the body. Thorne par- 
ticularly wanted to know, if he had found any money 
on the person of the officer. He did not receive much 
satisfaction on that point, but was given the officer's 
pistol and hat. 

Now I will tell you of my jealousy, and the sequel 
to it. As I have stated, when the scouts returned to 
us from the church, my master was mounted on a beau- 
tiful roan horse, that he had captured; but I certainly 
thought, when he started to leave, that he would mount 
Arab. But what do you think, when we started he 
rode the horrid roan (and led Arab), as he said, to try 
him. Now for the sequel. My master did not ride 
the fine roan many days before he heard from a good 
source that the bushwhacker caught riding a certain 
roan horse would be strung up without "judge or 

136 



jury;" and not desiring to meet that fate, he carried 
the horse into the Confederate lines and sold him. He 
was bought by a brother of Lieut. John Tolbert, of Co. 
I (Edgefield Hussars), and sold by him to Lieut. 
Pierce Butfler, of same company, who, I heard, sent 
him to his home in South Carolina, and after the war 
carried him to Mississippi. So ended my first and last 
jealousy. 



CHAPTER LXIII. 

Hampton's scouts, about a week later, went to this 
church again, reinforced by Griffin's squad from Co. 
G. But they did not succeed in capturing any of the 
wagons and mules — for the Yankees had taken the pre- 
caution of doubling the infantry guard of the wagons. 

Now the Christmas of 1863 was upon us, and we 
had "a jolly good time." Plenty to eat and drink 
(water, I mean,) for horse and man. The next inci- 
dent that I will relate, happened on New Year's day, 
and Barney Hennegan was the hero of it. New Year's 
day, my master, in company with Barney Hennegan, 
had been making several New Year's calls. In mak- 
ing these calls, we (the horses) had to be hid out in the 
pines, while the men visited the different houses on 
foot. The enemy were encamped all around, and dif- 
ferent parties of their cavalry were constantly scouting 
this section of the country, as well as small parties of 
foragers, from each command, out buying butter, 
chickens, eggs, milk, etc., for their New Year's dinner. 
Our two scouts, after paying calls at the houses of the 
Catletts, Calvins, Lattimers, Gibsons, etc., arrived at 
the house of Mr. James Howison. We (the horses) 
were left in a piece of woods, not far from the house, 

137 



and the two scouts left us for Mr. Howison's. There 
were two brothers of that name. Mr. Allan Howison 
lived about three miles from here, on Cedar Run. Both 
of these gentlemen had very pretty, as well as accom- 
plished daughters — Miss Hattie and Miss Emma How- 
ison. And, by the way, Barney Hennegan seemed to 
think (judging from his constant conversation in re- 
gard to her) there was no young lady in Prince Wil- 
liam County to compare, much less equal, Miss Emma. 
So I suppose, he was delighted at the present oppor- 
tunity of paying a New Year's call on Miss Emma — 
though both of them seemed to be in unusually good 
spirits, when they left us. They had not left us but a 
very short time, when I heard cavalry passing, and 
there seemed to be quite a large body of them, going in 
the direction of Bristow and Manassas. I began to 
get very uneasy about the two scouts, when suddently 
they appeared, both mounted on two fine looking 
horses, and a Yankee Sergeant and Corporal (by their 
stripes) walking on each side, and Mr. James Howison 
bringing up the rear. 

Then I heard the story of the capture, and it was to 
this effect : "The two scouts had entered Mr. Howi- 
son's house, met by Miss Emma and conducted to the 
basement (where Virginia people generally eat their 
meals, and sometimes have for a sitting room). Then, 
after a lively and pleasant conversation, Miss Emma 
and a younger sister handed some cake and wine (very 
scarce articles, these hard war times). The scouts 
said they had just commenced to enjoy the good things, 
especially the wine, when the basement door suddenly 
opened without any rapping (for Yankees never rap 
before opening a door), and this was the tableau that 
greeted their sight, two Yankees, a Sergeant and Cor- 
poral. As quick as thought, on their appearance, the 

138 



brave Hennegan drew both of his pistols, and covering 
one with each, yelled to the other scout, 'take their 
arms.' This was quickly done. There before the 
door were their horses, which were speedily mounted 
by the scouts and the enemy 'double-quicked' to the 
woods." 

As I have stated, Mr. Howison "brought up the 
rear" when the party returned. I noticed he looked 
very grave and solemn — for generally he was a very 
pleasant-looking man. After we had retreated to a 
thicker part of the pines, Mr. Howison said to the 
scouts: "Boys, I want to talk to you on a very serious 
matter. Now," he said, "have I not always treated 
you scouts as hospitably as I was able to do — giving 
you the best I had, for both man and horse?" The 
men answered, "That he certainly had done so." Mr. 
Howison then said, "I tell you what you have got to 
do, you have got to kill those Yankees. Promise me 
that you will do it, and I will return home believing 
you are both men of your word, and will perform what 
you promise." He then went on to say, "You both are 
no doubt aware that the Brigadier General, or perhaps 
Colonel, in command of the force of cavalry these two 
men belong to (I forget the officer's name, a Dutch- 
man, I think, at least a foreigner), promised, threat- 
ened, or perhaps published, an order, that any member 
of his command captured at a citizen's house, the house 
should immediately be burnt. Now you know my sit- 
uation : that I have a defenceless family, a wife and 
children — the latter all girls." The promise was given 
him, and he departed for his home, promising to return 
with something to eat for both man and horse, for we 
were obliged to remain in the pines until night. Mr. 
Howison returned before sun-set with a plentiful sup- 
ply of food for us all. Again exacting the promise 

139 



from the scouts, in regard to the two Yankees. I 
know the latter were worried, for they had) heard the 
whole conversation; and further, I had heard them 
say, that being hungry, they had gone up to the house 
to procure something to eat, and I noticed the poor fel- 
lows eat very little of what Mr. Howison brought, 
although a bountiful supply had been given them. 

After dark we left the woods, the scouts mounted on 
their own horses, the enemy on theirs. We crossed 
the Catlett's Station and Bristow public road, and en- 
tered a large body of woods, to the left of Hinson's 
house (a Union citizen). I said to myself, "Right 
here in these thick woods, the scouts are going to make 
these Yankees disappear/' Sure enough, we had not 
gone far in the woods, when a halt was made, both cap- 
tors and captured dismounting. We horses were tied, 
and the Yankees were told to say their prayers. Poor 
fellows, they begged piteously for their lives. I was 
very sorry for them, and the scouts told them they were 
sorry for them, but that they had given their promise 
to put them "out of the way," and they were obliged to 
perform it. Barney Hennegan told my master, "You 
shoot the Sergeant, and I will then settle with the Cor- 
poral." He answered, "You shoot the Corporal and I 
will then shoot the Sergeant." 'Thus it went on for 
some time, until they concluded that neither one could 
perform so cowardly and cruel a deed; and Arab was 
sincerely glad of it, although I had no love for the race. 

Now came the amusing part of it. Hennegan, as I 
have stated) before, was, or ought to have been, a law- 
yer, and he made those two Yankees get on their knees, 
and with uplifted hands swear more learned oaths than 
I ever heard of before or since. And wonderful to say 
they kept those oaths, for we succeeded after a perilous 
time in getting them safely across the railroad' — hav- 

140 



ing to cross the railroad in fifty yards of their videttes. 
The next day they were sent into the Confederate lines. 
What tale the men told Mr. Howison, is more than 
I can say — I can only surmise. But I am confident of 
this fact, that the Yankees never told the particulars 
of their capture, for Mr. Howison's house was never 
burnt ; and I suppose to this day, if he is in the land of 
the living, he believes implicitly that those two Yan- 
kees "disappeared." Although I pitied the prisoners, 
I could not blame Mr. Howison in the least ; he was a 
good 1 , moral, hospitable gentleman, but his first duty 
was to his unprotected family. 



CHAPTER LXIV. 

A few days after this, I met at Weaversville for the 
first time, Gen. Fitz Lee's famous scout, Frank String- 
fellow. I had heard that he was with Mosby the day 
Hampton's scouts were with him in the fight at War- 
renton Junction ; if so, I did not see him, for I was en- 
gaged on the march down from Upperville, observing 
the looks and actions of Mosby's gallant Lieutenants, 
Mont joy, the two Richardis, Turner, Beal and others, 
who had made noble records for themselves fighting 
under "The Glorious Stars and Bars." Frank String- 
fellow was a native born Virginian. He had been 
scouting for Gen. Fitz Lee for some time, and was 
very successful as a scout. The General had the full- 
est confidence in his judgment and sagacity. He had 
the reputation of killing more Yankees than any other 
one man in the Army of Northern Virginia. 

In a short time the scouts were called in, and we bade 
a sorrowful adieu to our old and tried friends in Prince 
William County, who had always stood by us and 

141 



shared' with us in time of plenty and in time of want. 
Could any people do more? We found the regiment 
encamped at Hamilton's Crossing, near Old Massa- 
ponax Church, south of Fredericksburg. We found 
every one preparing to return to South Carolina. The 
2d South Carolina Cavalry at that time was a mere 
squadron instead of a regiment — the companies hardly 
amounted) to "a corporal's guard." Our company, the 
Beaufort District Troop, now Co. B, 2d South Caro- 
lina Cavalry, when it started' for Virginia in June, 
1 86 1, numbered eighty-six men, "rank and file," as the 
roll of the company, in the first part of this manuscript, 
shows ; at present there were about fourteen names on 
the company roll, and I heard eight present for duty. 
I (Arab, horse as I am,) was glad to return to the "old 
Palmetto State;" but when I thought of leaving the 
"Glorious Army of Northern Virginia," I felt sad in- 
deed, and I know my master felt more so. The men 
were to take the cars to return to South 'Carolina, and 
the horses were to be sent by land', with a detail of men, 
under a commissioned officer. The time soon came 
for us to make a start. My master sent me back by his 
servant Ben, who I have often alluded to in my narra- 
tive. 

CHAPTER LXV. 

Ben had two horses under his charge, myself and a 
black mare belonging to Lieut. J. 0. Davant. Ben was 
ordered to ride one horse one day and the other the 
next ; but he rode Arab every day, and about the third 
day after the horse detail started, he gave them the 
"slip," and started alone for South Carolina. 

Now, you see Ben, like myself, had been absent from 
home since the 19th of June, 1861, and this was March, 

142 



1864. Now, after I hadl made the start, I wanted to 
reach home myself, but I was not as anxious to do so 
as Ben. I can't tell what possessed him, but I know he 
kept a canteen around' his neck the entire route, and as 
fast as it got empty he would manage to have it filled. 
We made about thirty, sometimes forty, miles a day. 
He gave us a plenty to eat, though, and groomed us 
well, me particularly. We reached Orangeburg C. 
H., S. C, about the twenty- fourth day. Ben saidl to 
me that night, "Arab, it ain't more than sixty or sixty- 
five miles home. Let us make the trip to-morrow ; if 
it kills the black, it dbn't matter much." It did not ap- 
pear to me that it would kill the black to lead! her and 
ride me. I did' not say anything, but I made up my 
mind to dlo my best (as I always dttd), and after a long 
and fatiguing day's ride, we reached the dear old home- 
stead about eleven o'clock that night — the home where 
I was foaled and raised ; but how sad 1 it was not meet- 
ing my dear old mother. She had! departed this life 
about a year previously ; and I imagined! how both of 
us would have enjoyed) the return of the "Virginia 
War Horse," and if not covered with glory, at least 
covered with honorable wounds, received in doing my 
duty as a faithful horse, and in saving my master, time 
and again, from captivity, perhaps from death. And 
to the last day of my life, I will consider it an honor to 
have been ridden by one of Hampton's scouts of the 
Army of Northern Virginia. How pleasant it would 
have been to relate to my dear old mother the different 
scenes and incidents that I have tried in my imperfect 
way to recount in this my "Autobiography." It 
would, indeed, have been a proud day for me, and 1 I 
well know how she would have replied, "Arab, you owe 
it all to the early and earnest teaching and training of 
your mother." And I believe firmly, as her loving son 

143 



should believe, that nothing else but her wise counsel 
has brought me safely through the dangers I have ex- 
perienced since the 19th day of June, 1861. 

Well, I am happy and proud to say that I have been 
treated with "marked distinction" since my return to 
my old home, both by horse and man ; and I soon found 
out it was quite an honor to be known as a "Virginia 
War Horse." 



CHAPTER LXVI. 

Now I had a good long rest at the old home. Noth- 
ing was too good for Arab. My master riding to 
camp a fine black mare of his brother's. But I did not 
get jealous, as I once did. After the return of the 26. 
South Carolina Cavalry, our company, Co. B, first 
went into camp at Grahamville, S. C, on the old troop 
ground of the Beaufort District Troop. Later the 
company encamped at Pocotaligo, and then went to 
Green Pond to join the regiment. We soon marched 
to Chisolmville and encamped, dbing picket duty at the 
different crossings on the Combahee River. At this 
camp, I (Arab) once more resumed the duties of a war 
horse, after a couple of months' rest — the longest 
period of rest I had enjoyed since June, 1861. Here 
the summer months passed in quite a different manner 
from those experienced in Virginia. 



144 



CHAPTER LXVII. 

Nothing of importance occurred until July, when the 
enemy landed on John's Island, and part of the regi- 
ment was sent there under the command of the gallant 
Capt. John Chestnut, Co. A (Boykin Rangers). We 
reached the island on the second day, and I once more 
had the pleasure of "smelling gunpowder." Well, it. 
was quite amusing to us old veterans, both horse and 
man, to see these coast soldiers dodging from the few 
shells the enemy were throwing over and around us. 
(Now, don't understand me to say all coast soldiers 
are "dodlgers" from shell, for I do not mean to do so. 
All honor to the brave soldiers who protected the coast 
of South Carolina.) Even Gen. Robertson and Staff 
seemed to dislike very much the music of the bursting 
shells. That is, I was told by some of our men, that 
they were Gen. Robertson and Staff. I did not know 
them ; but I knew this, that they did not look to me 
(and many others) like they were used to having "nail 
kegs" from gunboats exploding over them, you know. 
"Getting used to a thing," makes all the difference in 
the world. 

The command had a severe little engagement while 
on the island. But, to my great disappontment, they 
fought dismounted. Our company lost two good men 
killed and several wounded. The killed were Private 
W T . E. Porcher, of Charleston, who had recently joined 
the company, and Jim Clifton, of Beaufort District, 
and one of the old veterans of Beaufort District Troop, 
a brave and gallant soldier as he had often proved on 
many a hard fought field in Virginia, Maryland and 
Pennsylvania. The wounded from Co. B were Bill 
Sparks, severely, and my master slightly. Co. I 
(Edgefield Hussars) also suffered severely. Among 

145 



those wounded severely were Private Idson and the 
brave Lamar Stark. After the death of Porcher and 
Clifton, in the breastworks, from which the enemy in 
heavy force drove us out, the 48th Georgia Infantry 
came to our assistance, when we drove the enemy out 
of the breastworks, regained our position and recov- 
ered the bodies of our killed. In the fight holding the 
works, our detachment from the 2d South Carolina 
Cavalry was under the command of Lieut. W. H. 
Perry, Brooks Troop. He behaved as only an old 
veteran was expected to do, bravely and gallantly. 
After recapturing the works a squad of men were sent 
back to the "horse holders" for Porcher and Clifton's 
horses, to bear their masters' bodies to the rear. Clif- 
ton's horse refused to allow the body to be placed 
across him. Then Corp. Nelson Terry, Clifton's mess- 
mate and friend, sent for his horse, and he also refused 
to have the body placed across the saddle. My master 
then told Terry to send for me, for he was well aware 
that I had time and again borne ofT the dead bodies of 
his comrades killed on the plains of Virginia. So I 
bore the body back to the field hospital established on 
the island ; from here it was shipped the next day to his 
home in Beaufort District. I was proud to bear the 
remains of so gallant and tried a soldier as Jim Clifton 
had proved to be. 



146 



CHAPTER LXVIII. 

By this time the decimated ranks of the companies 
of the 2d South Carolina Cavalry had 1 been filled, and 
in the fall we were ordered to North Carolina. We 
reached there in time to take part in the fight before 
Fort Fisher. Though encamped at Masonboro Sound, 
just below Wilmington, we did picket duty as far 
down as Topsel Sound, a distance of thirty miles. We 
spent the Xmas of 1864 on picket at this place, and it 
was here I learnt to eat clam soup, for horse feed and 
men feed was pretty slim these days. Oh ! how often 
I wished to be back in Old Virginia, to get some of that 
good oats and clover hay. 

Some time about the 1st of January, 1865, Col. 
Lipscomb, the Colonel of the 2d South Carolina Cav- 
alry, sent his Orderly to my master ordering him to 
report at his headquarters. He did so, and the Colo- 
nel told him Major Gen. Hoke had requested that he 
would send him one of the old Virginia scouts, with a 
small detail of men, to scout for him. The Colonel 
told my master to pick three men and report to Gen. 
Hoke. He chose his detail from his company, Co. B 
(Beaufort District Troop) ; they were Bill Speaks, an 
old and tried veteran, who had served with him 
through the Virginia campaign; James S. Mc'Teer (a 
younger brother of the old veteran, Wylie W. Mc- 
Teer), a new member of the company, and C. P. Hen- 
derson (his own younger brother), also a new mem- 
ber of Co. B (Beaufort District Troop). Gen. Hoke 
was duly "reported to ;" the General ordered the detail 
to report to Gen. Johnson Hagood, commanding a 
Brigade in Hoke's Division, and in command of the 
advance forces on the south side of the Cape Fear 
River. Gen. Hagood's headquarters were found, and 

147 



he was "reported 1 to." I was much pleased with the 
General's looks and manners. He had a pleasant con- 
versation with the scouts, before talking business. I 
remember, on learning my master's name and' that he 
was from Colleton District, S. C, he told him, I know 
both your father and uncle, D. S. Henderson, of Wal- 
terboro, etc. The General then told him, "I want you 
to search and patrol the country in front of my force, 
in the direction of Smithville. The enemy is said to 
have a large land force there, and is expected to ad- 
vance from that point on Wilmington, via Town 
Creek. Now," he said, "I depend on you and your 
scouts to report an advance from Smithville, if it 
should take place, which is more than probable. Go 
down yourself, every morning and afternoon, and as- 
certain if everything is quiet. I have ascertained from 
a tried citizen, who knows the country, that from the 
Prioleau farm, just this side of Smithville, you can 
look directly down in the very midist of the town." 

We went forward on a general scout, and found the 
situation of the place exactly as it had been described 
by the citizen to Gen. Hagood. The scouts chose a 
house to take their meals at ; the owner's name was 
Wescoat. His house was situated three miles south 
of Smithville, on the main road from there to Wil- 
mington, via Town Creek Bridge. Wescoat told the 
scouts he could show them a very private, out-of-the- 
way place to spend their nights — he proceeded to do so. 
It proved to be an old school-house, and it really seemed 
a secluded place, indeed. But I knew by experience 
that there was no spot so secluded that the Yankees 
could not find it. The school-house proved to be a 
small lath and plastered building, in a dense body of 
pines, and on the back and one side, a large and thick 
pond or branch. There were plenty of nice shady 

148 



trees in front and rear to tie and shelter us horses — for 
you know every cavalryman at a "stopping place" has 
a tree or a certain tree, to tie his horse to, which after 
tying to once, is "his tree." We horses fared splen- 
didly; plenty of corn, oats and hay was stored in the 
school-house for our benefit, and although we were 
"on the go" pretty well all day, we had a good quiet 
time at night and a plenty to eat, and that fits you to 
undergo most any hardship. The scouts also seemed 
contented and good-natured ; said they got a plenty of 
pork and sweet potatoes at Wescoat's; and I expect 
that was the reason they seemed so happy. 



CHAPTER LXIX. 

The balance of the month of January, 1865, passed 
very quietly. The saddles were never off our backs 
during the day. Early every morning, and late every 
afternoon, we would visit the hill and old breastworks 
overlooking the town o£ Smithville, to ascertain if "all 
was quiet on the lines." One rainy afternoon in Feb- 
ruary, we returned from our daily scout to Smithville 
to our little school-house in the pines, for the night. 
Each man soon found his tree, for by this time it was 
raining hard. Now the next duty of the scout was to 
feed his horse. Then his outdoor work was com- 
pleted for the night. There was no guard or vidette 
duty to perform, the school-house being a considerable 
distance from the public highway. As soon as the sad- 
dle and bridle had been taken off me, I found out that 
the Yankees "were around," or had been around since 
we left the house at noon — for I had learnt to detect 
them by their scent, and the scent was warm this night. 
In a few yards of "Arab's tree" runs the dense branch 

149 



I spoke of before, and the scent appeared to come from 
this place. About this time my master hurried up with 
my corn and hay and placed it before me. 

Now I am, generally speaking, a horse with a good 
appetite, and I am never in the habit of mincing with 
my feed like some horses I have seen; so when I paid 
no attention to my feed, my master's attention was im- 
mediately attracted. He talked to me for some time, 
as he was in the habit of doing, from the first days of 
the war — asking me, "What I was smelling at, and 
what was the matter?" Of course, he knew I could 
not answer him ; but he had learnt to know me too inti- 
mately to need a reply. And in a few minutes he 
called the other men. The three scouts immediately 
joined him, as well as four others, who had been scout- 
ing with us that day, and were going to spend the 
night. Jim McTeer was the first man to speak; he 
said 1 : "Old' Arab don't lie, and' there is, most assuredly, 
Yankees around here — don't you think so, you know 
him better than I do?" referring to my master. He 
said, "I do; and I am going to leave here, rain or not, 
and I advise you boys to do the same. There is no 
compulsion; stay if you like — I am going." And he 
went and got his saddle, bridle and haversack. His 
three scouts did not hesitate a minute, but followed his 
example (it sent a thrill of pleasure to my "heart's 
core" to know that these four men, with all their hu- 
man sense, had that much confidence in the sagacity 
and experience of the "Old War Horse"), saddling up 
their horses and getting ready to leave. The four 
North Carolina scouts said they would stay and risk it, 
and not leave dry quarters for the wet woods. But 
when they saw our company scouts ready to leave, they 
changed their minds and saddled up their horses; when 
the squad of eight left and spent the night in the woods. 

150 



As soon as it was light next morning, the squad of men 
started back for the school-house, soaked with rain, for 
it had poured down the entire night, and I have no 
doubt some of the party blessing Arab for his smart- 
ness. The house was soon reached, and the scouts 
then found out who had the most sense, man or horse; 
for we soon found out that the enemy had ransacked 
the house, taking everything of any value, destroying 
the horse feed and all they could not carry off. They 
had been concealed in the branch, and no doubt in- 
tended to wait until the scouts got to sleep, when they 
would have come out and captured the party. Why 
they did not burn the house, no one could conceive. 
They wrote all kinds of messages, threats and curses 
on the walls, and I heard one of our scouts say one of 
the messages was to this effect, "That he hoped the 
next time they paid us a visit, we would be at home to 
receive them." What cheek! 



CHAPTER LXX. 

Nothing special occurred for some time worth re- 
lating. The scouts had the company pretty often of a 
rather strange character — he was an artillery officer, a 
Capt. Bond, of some Virginia or, more probably, a 
North Carolina Battery. He reported to the com- 
mander of our little scouting party that Gen. Hoke had 
given him permission to come down occasionally and 
scout with us. The first day he accompanied the 
scouts down to Smithville, he acted very queerly, all 
the scouts thought, and so did Arab. Directly after 
passing the Prioleau farm, I have spoken of, there was 
an old Confederate breastwork, and whenever the 
scouts came down, they would ride up to the top of this 

151 



earthwork, and looking beyond could see all that was 
going on in the town. Sometimes the Yankee pickets 
would fire on us, oftener they would not. This day I 
allude to, in company with Capt. Bond, all rode up to 
or on the breastwork. The Captain seemed very in- 
terested in observing the situation of the place. The 
Yankee pickets seeing, I suppose, a new horse in the 
party — a very large cream — commenced firing on us. 
Our scouts, as usual, when they would commence fir- 
ing with their long range rifles, rode down the opposite 
side of the earthwork, out of range of their guns, "for 
there is no fun in being made a target of." Capt. 
Bond never stirred a step, but sat calmly on his horse, 
and after having over a hundred shots fired at him, 
drew his pistol from the holster and fired every barrel 
of it towards them. Of course, it was too far to do 
any execution. It was surprising to see how utterly 
regardless he was to the fire of the Yankee rifles. And 
he was in near rifle shot of them. The Yankees 
seemed so much astonished themselves at his indiffer- 
ence, that they soon ceased firing. The Captain then 
rode down and joined the party — neither he nor his 
cream horse was touched. We then started to return, 
and on the way back he told the scouts this story : That 
his sweetheart was in the enemy's lines, in Smithville, 
and that he had sent her word by some private source 
that he would be in sight of the town that day, from 
this direction, and to be on the lookout for him. He 
came down several different times with the scouts and 
always acted the same manoeuvre. I do not know what 
ever became of him, and have often wondered since if 
he passed through the war all "O. K.," and if he recov- 
ered his sweetheart at last. The Captain assuredly 
had the sincere sympathy and best wishes of Arab. 



152 



CHAPTER LXXL 

On a certain morning, I forget the day or date, the 
rain pouring in torrents, the scouts started as usual for 
Smithville. Just half way down was Wescoat's house, 
south of Town Creek. Beyond the house towards 
Smithville, the road extended straight as an arrow, for 
over a mile, passing a Yankee citizen's house, whose 
name was Price. Beyond Price's, the road made an 
abrupt bend, crossing a deep branch. Further on was 
the Prioleau farm. We had just passed Price's that 
morning and on turning the bend, we found ourselves 
confronting a large body of the enemy's infantry. We 
were so close to them that we could see the Yankees 
carrying their guns under their oil-cloths, for the rain 
was still pouring. We did not remain in this position 
many minutes, or seconds, either; but wheeled to the 
"right about," and got out of reach of those long rifles. 
A courier was immediately dispatched to acquaint Gen. 
Hagood that the enemy were advancing, apparently in 
force. A little scouting and flanking was now done, 
for the Yankees had halted after "running into" the 
scouts. Soon another courier was dispatched to the 
General. Then the two scouts who were left, fell back 
up the straight piece of road I have alluded to, as far as 
Wescoat's house; and it being about breakfast time, 
they concluded "to halt and eat" (for soldiers are 
always hungry, was my experience of them), as well as 
dry their clothes — being convinced from the situation 
of the road, the enemy could not approach them un- 
awares. The scouts halted and dismounting, they 
procured a couple of boxes and fed us, slipping the bits 
out of our mouths, and feeding us back of a small house 
near the dKvelling; they then entered the house for their 
breakfast (Bill Speaks and my master). I know they 

153 



must have had the house-keeper, a Mrs, Moore, watch- 
ing this straight piece of road, on which the Yankees 
were advancing, for I could see her from where I was 
eating my corn, looking intently out of the window 
towards Smithville. Soon I missed her from the win- 
dow, and I heard afterwards that she happened to go to 
the front window, not that she expected to see them 
from that direction ; but to her surprise there they were, 
entering the front gate. She gave the alarm, "Yankees 
coming in the front gate." The two scouts rushed 
from the house for their horses The Yankees were so 
close on them, they did not have time to replace the bit 
in our mouths, but mounted us in a second and started 
off. My companion horse on this occasion was a sor- 
rel mare, Speaks had brought out from home in June, 
1 86 1. Now the practice I had been taught as a colt 
proved useful, indeed — to turn either right or left with- 
out the bridle, simply by striking me on the side of the 
head with the open hand, according to the direction I 
was desired to proceed. The hand was used lively and 
hurriedly that morning, also the Texas spurs, as closely 
followed by Bill Speaks on the sorrel mare, I was 
turned for the bridge across Town Creek. Now, be- 
fore we could reach the public road leading to the 
bridge, we had to get out of Wescoat's enclosure. The 
house and field was enclosed with a pretty high rail 
fence. Sweet potatoes had been planted and dug 
between the house and the road, and every step we took 
we sank below the fetlock, the ground being wet and 
muddy from the recent heavy rains. We could not 
strike directly for the public road, for it was filled with 
Yankee cavalry. Now this cavalry, who first appeared 
at the front gate and were now in close pursuit of us, 
we could form no idea of where they came from, and 
how they had managed to get between us and our 

154 



army; but found out afterwards. My master kept 
slapping me on the right side of my head — that meant 
"Go to the left." I did not need much slapping, for 
the Yankees were on our right (in the road) as well as 
those in our rear, in pursuit of us. Now beyond the 
fence, straight as we were going, was an old, much cut- 
up road filled with deep clay gullies, washed out by the 
rains for years, perhaps. Beyond this old road was an 
open piece of pine barren extending to the creek. But 
the leap had to be made, and I successfully cleared 
fence and road, closely followed by the noble little sor- 
rel mare. As we reached the pine-barren, my master 
slapped me on the left, and I turned for the public road. 
No Yankees directly in our front, down the road we 
raced, and now for the bridge. As we turned the first 
bend we came in sight of the bridge, but to our sorrow, 
it was covered by Yankee horsemen. Now I was 
slapped on the left and turned to the right, across an 
open piece of woods. Oh! how I wished for the old 
Virginia pines that day. By this time there was sev- 
eral parties of Yankees pursuing us ; and now they 
commenced firing on us in earnest. We kept racing 
on towards the creek ; as we neared it, the underbrush 
got thicker, but we soon discovered that we were on a 
narrow neck of land, with the creek on one side and the 
public road on the other. When we arrived at the 
creek, my master halted me in the thickest place he 
could find, and dismounted, telling Speaks to do the 
same. He did not even tie me, but placing his hand 
on me, said hurriedly, "Arab, you know I hate to leave 
you, but I must try and save myself. Stand perfectly 
quiet. Good-bye, old fellow." And away he and 
Speaks went towards the creek, bogging nearly knee 
deep at every step, trying to reach the bank of the 
creek, where the undergrowth was much thicker. The 

155 



run, as I have forgotten to mention, could not be 
crossed except at the bridge. For to truly express it, 
as I had once heard Wescoat tell the scouts, "It would 
bog a blanket." Now came the trying time, and more 
than once I came very near "disobeying orders," in re- 
gard to remaining quiet, for the enemy passed a dozen 
different times in fifty yards of us. Now, though I 
was not tied, and had a perfect horror of being cap- 
tured, I remembered it was the first duty of a soldier 
"to obey orders;" I was a soldier's war horse, and I 
obeyed the order given me at parting, compelling the 
sorrel mare to do the same. 

All through that long day we remained quiet, the 
mare browsing on the bushes occasionally, but Arab 
did not eat a mouthful. It is true, the Yankees quit 
passing backwards and forwards near us, but we could 
hear heavy firing at the bridge. Still we did not know 
until later that our forces had driven the enemy back to 
Smithville, quicker than they came. About twilight 
the scouts returned, and as they both said', they had no 
idea of finding us, thinking the Yankees had certainly 
captured us. Well, I for one was well repaid for my 
share of anxiety and worry, for on finding me safe, my 
master hugged and kissed me, as if I was a human 
being. And though I always considered he cared for 
me, I never knew before how much he loved me. Bill 
Speaks also seemed delighted to find his mare. What 
the sorrel mare thought and felt in regard to the mat- 
ter, I am unable to say. We were soon mounted, and 
the scouts started for Wescoat's house, where my mas- 
ter had left his Confederate grey overcoast, drying be- 
fore the fire, and what he valued more, his haversack, 
containing many little "home keepsakes," and perhaps 
a picture of his sweetheart. When we reached Wes- 
coat's (not meeting friend or foe), they seemed per- 

156 



fectly delighted to see us all — for the Yankees had told 
them they had captured us, and the Wescoats had 1 told 
our men (who had 'been there to learn some tidings of 
us) the tale the Yankees had told them. The enemy 
got the grey overcoat, but the Widow Moore had 
saved the haversack. How, we never heard, but it 
was in some mysterious way, for there was quite a 
laugh over it among the people of the house. Wescoat 
informed the scouts that Gen. Hagood', with his brig- 
ade and our regiment of cavalry, had met and driven 
the Yankees back to Smithville, and on their return 
our company had halted at his house to try and get 
some information of the two scouts. The two scouts 
of our party, Jim McTeer and Pinckney Henderson 
(who had been sent as couriers to the General that 
morning with the information of the advance of the 
enemy), in company with R. S. Williams, of Beaufort 
District Troop, followed the horses's tracks from Wes- 
coat's house to the place where we made the leap over 
the fence, and I have often heard them say, they meas- 
ured the jump, and it was over twenty-five feet from 
"fore feet to hind feet." After they had tracked us to 
the fence, they could not discover which way we had 
gone, and thought it very probable, as the Yankees had 
said, that we had been captured. If they had' only 
have crossed the public road and advanced up the creek 
much anxiety of mind would have been saved. 

Before we left Wescoat's that night, his wife 
brought in a gallon jug of wine and said, "It had been 
buried for over three years." It was opened and 
drank, in honor of the safe return of the scouts. It 
was surely good, for I was given a tin cup even full 
myself. We then went and spent the night in camp 
with our company. All seemed rejoiced that we were 



157 



still in the land of the living, and not killed or inmates 
of a Yankee prison. 

CHAPTER LXXII. 

The next morning we returned to our scouting 
ground, and remained there, doing duty at the front, 
for some time longer, nothing worthy of relating oc- 
curring, except on the second advance of the enemy, a 
little incident happened which may interest some old 
Confederate now living. 

My master and another scout had just advanced 
down a certain road and run into a squad or perhaps a 
regiment of Yankee cavalry. I, for one, did not see 
how many. The two were slowly returning towards 
the Confederate lines, when they came across Gen. 
Hoke and staff, halted in the road. The General 
asked a good many questions in regard to the forces 
and advance of the enemy. Finally he said, "We were 
advancing on the other road (the roads running par- 
allel, and about a half mile apart), when we met one 
of your scouts and he told me if I wished to see you, I 
had better strike across to this road, as you were on 
this road and would return to our lines on this road. 
We did so, sending a message by him to Lieut. Walker, 
of my Staff, who I had sent back to convey an order to 
our lines, to also cross over to this road ; and I am fear- 
ful your man may not meet him, and he may ride into 
the Yankee lines, not looking for the enemy to be as 
close to us as you report them, and also thinking that 
I am in his front." After a short time the General 
started back towards his division, asking the scouts to 
remain awhile, and perhaps the officer would "turn 
up." The scouts waited here about a half hour and 

158 



had just started to return in the direction Gen. Hoke 
had taken, when we heard horses' feet, and before the 
scouts had time to leave the road and take to the woods, 
they were "upon us." There were about ten or twelve 
Yankee horsemen, and in a moment we noticed one of 
them was about twenty or thirty yards in front of the 
others. Both of our scouts had their rifles and in an 
instant both of the rifles "cracked," and then were 
dropped and the Colt's army drawn, and from each 
pistol several shots were fired. But a strange thing 
happened then; only one Yankee (as we then 
thought), the one in the advance of the coming enemy, 
passed on like a ''streak of greased lightning." For- 
tunately, as it proved, none of the shots took effect on 
the person of the man shot at ; for after continuing the 
road and reaching Gen. Hoke and staff, our scouts 
found out they had been practicing target shooting on 
Gen. Hoke's Staff Officer, Lieut. Walker. And they 
spoilt his new blue talma, too — for over his Confede- 
rate uniform he wore a blue talma. He received four 
pistol balls through the talma. This is how he hap- 
pened to be in company with the Yankees, or rather in 
front of them, and trying at the full speed of his horse 
to get away from them. He received the message sent 
him by the scout, and crossed over from the upper to 
the lower road; but he went a little too far down be- 
fore he turned across, or he would have seen the two 
men waiting for him. When he did strike the lower 
road, he kept on down towards the enemy, thinking, as 
he said, that the General was in his front. The first 
thing he knew, he was amongst the Yankees; and they, 
seeing but one man, followed him closely until the 
shots from the two scouts sent them back in a hurry. 



159 



CHAPTER LXXIII. 

Some time after this the enemy advanced in heavy 
force from Smithville, and they advanced this time to 
stay. We saw the battle of Town Creek fought, but 
took no active part in it; saw the Yankees when they 
succeeded in flanking and capturing nearly the entire 
nth South Carolina Infantry, Hagood's Brigade, Col. 
Fred. Gantt, commanding the nth; and, as well as I 
remember, Col. Simontons regiment, same Brigade, 
was captured. 

In a few days the Confederate army evacuated Wil- 
mington, and we fell back towards Northeast River. 
Here my master was "taken down" with a severe at- 
tack of every-day chills and fever, and was sent, or 
allowed to go, to a private house in the country. And 
before he recovered sufficiently to mount his horse, the 
enemy had advanced and- was in possession of the 
whole country. We had to lie out in the woods for 
nearly two weeks before he was able to ride. When 
he got strength enough "to take the saddle," we could 
not hear where the command had gone ; but he heard 
both Generals Butler and Hampton were somewhere 
in North Carolina, near the South Carolina line ; and 
while hunting them, we struck up with Capt. John and 
Lieut. W. A. Mickler, the latter his old comrade and 
commander, while scouting in Virginia with Hamp- 
ton's scouts. The Micklers were at present command- 
ing scouts for Gen. P. M. B. Young, to whom my mas- 
ter duly reported, and was regularly detailed by the 
General to scout under the Mickler brothers. We 
were on a continued scout to the close of the war, from 
the North Carolina line to the Savannah River, and 
from the Savannah River to Charleston, S. C. Many 
and varied scenes and encounters we passed through in 

160 



safety. The six weeks we scouted together, I could 
recount incidents that would ''make your blood boil in 
your veins, and your hair rise on your head," that 
would fill a dozen books like this. I (horse as I am) 
will never be able to forget some of them. Most of 
them were in connection with "P. C." After Sher- 
man passed through the State, and perhaps at this late 
day, they had better be left unwritten. 

Now for the last scene of the war. When the scouts 
reported in a "body," at Augusta, Ga., to be paroled by 
Gen. Young, it was the 16th day of April, 1865, and it 
was the last time Arab ever saw the dashing and gal- 
lant Gen. Pierce M. B. Young. After all the scouts 
had received their paroles, they mounted their horses to 
leave the General's headquarters, when he called the 
two Micklers and my master back. When the three 
scouts entered the house, they were looking very sad ; 
but when they came out, after a parting hand-shake 
with the General on the steps, they all three looked 
"very smiling." And I, Arab, being a knowing horse, 
concluded' — yes, the General has been giving them 
some of "that medicine." 

Now the war is ended, and we return to our old 
homes. What a change had passed over the old plan- 
tation. Not the place alone, but the whole country. I 
could write page after page on the changes that had 
taken place ; but will only say this, and it will be suffi- 
cient for those who experienced those dark days. My 
old master's plantation was directly in the course of 
Sherman's march. That is enough, and more than 
enough to say. Can we ever forget it? 



161 



CHAPTER LXXIV. 

A few weeks after the war closed, my old master 
(my master's father) was ruthlessly murdered by 
negroes, and not being able to obtain any redress, he, in 
June, 1865, joined Capt. John Mickler's party of scouts 
(or guerillas, as the Yankees called them), a little band 
of brave men, who were doing their duty in protecting 
the citizens from outrage and pillage, and keeping the 
country quiet. Capt. John Mickler had been recently 
"outlawed," by the United States Government. We 
then had a "little war of our own," until the 21st of 
August, when we surrendered the second time. The 
citizens of the county having arranged terms for the 
scouts with United States officers. 



CHAPTER LXXV. 

The year 1866 passed away quietly. I was having 
a good time — a plenty to eat and good sport deer and 
fox hunting — and no work as yet; for my master had 
promised me that though dire povertv had followed the 
war, I should not plough ; and if the "worst came," he 
would plough me himself. As I have said, we lived in 
the wood's hunting, game being very plentiful, and 
meat very, very scarce. We had two near neighbors, 
the most inveterate fox hunters I have ever seen — the 
brave and gallant defender of Fort Sumter, Col. Al- 
fred Rhett, and his brother, Capt. Edmond Rhett. who 
lived with him. And the way these two men loved 
fox chasing was a "caution to foxes." Dogs, or I 
should say hunting dogs, were as scarce in this country 
as money, and I believe firmly that William Tecumseh 
Sherman's soldiers carried off even the hound dogs. 

162 



But Col. and Capt. Rhett managed to get hold of the 
best hunting dogs money could procure — English dogs 
at that. I have wondered, and thought it remarkable, 
that men so passionately fond of fox hunting, did not 
follow their dogs in the chase, both of them good 
riders, but they never did. They would ride up and 
dbwn the old Salkahatchie Road' (where we generally 
hunted) and see the dogs as they crossed and recrossed 
the road, noting which dog was leading the pack. The 
Colonel and his brother were always well mounted, 
and that was one reason I considered it so strange. I 
heard Col. Rhett tell my master on one occasion : 
"Henderson, it does me as much good to see you and 
your brother 'ride after 1 the dogs as to see the dbgs 
cross the road." 



CHAPTER LXXVI. 

In the fall of 1867, my master left old Colleton Dis- 
trict and moved to Grahamville, Beaufort District. 
Here we bath went to hard work. I was eleven years 
old before I ever "saw through a collar/' and I did 
not like it at all. Just to think of a No. 1 saddle horse, 
as well as an old war horse, that had followed and 
fought under Jeb. Stuart and Wade Hampton, pull- 
ing a plow. I think it perfectly horrible, and I think 
my master thinks the same, of holding the plow han- 
dles. We remained here a year, and then moved down 
on the "Salts," to a plantation called 1 "Bolan Hall." 
Here we would work the week through to Saturday — 
on that day hunt. That was one work we never 
omitted. The deer were like rabbits in this country, 
and we had some "grand old hunts," sometimes in 

163 



company with Capt. Abraham Hugennin and Lieut. 
Willie F. Colcock, both well mounted. 

In course of time we moved to a place called 4 '01d 
Store," owned by an old time Carolina gentleman, 
Col. Edward Lynah. He was a good, true friend to 
my master, and I will never forget his handsome face 
and kind voice, as he would pat me on the neck and call 
me "The Old Virginia War Horse." I was always 
proud of that title, and will be until I die. While here, 
my master was obliged; to shoot a "P. C," and they 
wanted to put him in a place called "the penitentiary," 
but that scheme of the Radicals "would not work," for 
he still owned Arab, to bear him away from the enemy, 
in time of peace as well as war. 



CHAPTER LXXVII. 

We bade good-bye to old South Carolina, and cross- 
ing Screven's Ferry, entered the city of Savannah, Ga., 
on the 5th day of May, 1870. My master told me he 
had about forty dollars, and that, he said', would keep 
us a while. Then, if he could not find work, I was to 
bear him to Alabama, where he said he had some rich 
relatives. The only person he said he knew in Savan- 
nah was Col. Fred Warring, formerly Colonel of the 
Jeff. Davis Legion, in Hampton's old brigade. He 
found the Colonel the next day, he being at that time 
forwarding agent of the Central Railroad of Georgia. 
And no better man or more gallant soldier ever hailed 
from that grand old State. He remembered my 
master and he remembered Arab, and he never quit 
trying, until he found him something to do. I heard 
him tell my master, one day after they had driven me 
all over the city in search of work for him : "Hender- 

164 



son, the only chance I see for you to get work at this 
dull time of the year, is to get a position on the police 
force of the city. The force here is different from 
what it once was, for some of the best men in Georgia 
are at present members of it. If you will try it, I will 
take you around and introduce you to my friend, Gen. 
Robert H. Anderson, who is at present chief of 
police." They immediately called at the office of Gen. 
Anderson, but he said he was very sorry he could not 
oblige an old Confederate soldier, for he had been one 
himself; but that there was over a hundred applications 
on file for positions on the force. Well, here was 
another hope frustrated. After 'Col. Warring had 
gotten out of the buggy, some hour or two later, and 
started home, he turned back, and said to my master, 
"Have you seen or had any communication recently 
with your old Colonel, Gen. M. C. Butler ? For I feel 
confident that if you could get a letter from him to Gen. 
Anderson, there would be no doubt of your getting a 
position on the force, for they think very highly of 
him, and have good cause to do so." My master told 
me that night, when he came around to the livery 
stable where I was boarded, "Arab, I have got enough 
money to keep us here a few days longer, until I can 
hear from Gen. Butler, and then, if things don't turn 
out right, away for Alabama; for, as I told Col. War- 
ring, when he told me to return home and come back in 
the fall, and he would give me a good position at the 
road, that it wasn't healthy in South Carolina, at 
present." He also said, in regard to Gen. Butler, "you 
know, as well as I do, that neither of us ever went back 
on him in time of war, and I don't believe he will go 
back on us in time of peace." 



165 



CHAPTER LXXVIII. 

In about ten days, for I counted each one of them, 
he came to the stable early one morning, and said, 
"Arab, the General has not forgotten his old soldiers. 
I have just received a leter from him, with this one 
enclosed to Gen. Anderson, which I will read you. 

" 'Gen. R. H. Anderson, Chief of Police, Savannah, 
Ga. : One of my old soldiers writes me he has recently 
gotten in trouble in South Carolina, and has made 
application to you for a position on the police force of 
the city of Savannah. 

" 'I take great pleasure in endorsing his application, 
not as a mere matter of form, as is customary, but for 
the personal regard I have for the applicant ; and if you 
can give him a position, I will consider it a personal 
favor to myself. I hear you have some mounted men 
on your force. If so, please give him a mounted posi- 
tion, for he writes he has his horse with him. 

" 'Henderson was one among the 'best riders, with 
the best horse, in my old regiment, 2d S. C. C, Army 
of Northern Virginia, in which regiment every man 
was a natural born rider.' " 

Now I had often heard men say to my master, "you 
are a Butler and Hampton man indeed; and I believe 
when you die will hope to go to Butler and Hampton." 
Now I found out exactly what they meant. And 
although I had always liked, and felt proud of our 
former Colonel, ever after this, to the end of my life, 
I will be a Butler horse. 

The letter was duly presented to Gen. Anderson, and 
three days afterwards Arab was installed in the police 
barracks stable, up to my eyes in oats and good tim- 
othy hay ; and that night I did my first tour of duty, 
bearing my master as proudly as I did in the glorious 

166 



old years of 1861 to 1865, when he had the honor of 
wearing the grey, and Arab had the honor of being a 
war horse of Gen. Robt. E. Lee's army, the Army of 
Northern Virginia. 

Well, we had a good time among the Georgians, and 
I soon found out they were as good citizens as they had 
proved themselves soldiers of the Southern Confed- 
eracy ; arid we were treated as well as horse and man 
could expect. We remained on the force about a year, 
when my master went into the cotton business, as 
weigher and warehouseman for H. M. Comer & Co. 
Now the time came when we had to part, for although 
I liked Georgia, I loved old South Carolina better, and 
I intimated to my master that I wished to return to the 
State and the old plantation, where I was born and 
raised, and where I hoped to be buried, for he had 
promised me decent burial. 



CHAPTER LXXIX. 

As I have already told you, though I could not con- 
verse with him, he understood my actions like a book, 
and he told me that he hated sadly to part with me, 
but that he would send me back to the old home, to his 
brother, Pinckney, who was living there. And he 
knew, and I knew, that his brother would take nearly 
as good care of me as he did. He told me he would 
visit me twice a year, if not oftener. So in a short 
time I found myself back in the dear old home. It 
seemed dearer to me as I grew older. That, I suppose, 
from what I have heard, is natural to us all, horse as 
well as man. Now I enjoyed hunting to my "heart's 
content," for Mr. Pinckney was one of the most suc- 
cessful deer hunters in the country ; and though I was 

167 



"rising" twenty years old, I still delighted! in following 
the hounds; and when my war blood rose, it took a 
good horse to keep up with me in the wood's. 

Now, my friend's and readers — if I have been for- 
tunate enough to have any — while trying to indite this 
little book with the scenes and incidents in my horse 
life, I am thankful and proud, too, and will weary you 
with only one more incident that happened soon after I 
returned to South Carolina. It occurred in 1876 — the 
year the gallant and chivalrous Wade Hampton re- 
deemed South Carolina from Radical rule; and, I 
conscientiously believe, the only man in the State that 
could have succeeded in doing it at that period. 
During his campaign, and on the occasion of his speak- 
ing at Walterboro, the company to which Mr. Pinck- 
ney belonged was to meet the General at Green Pond, 
and escort him to Walterboro. When I heard of it, it 
brought back pleasant recollections, and I remember I 
kept asking myself, will Gen. Hampton recognize me, 
the battered old war horse ? Still I felt my strength re- 
viving, and I longed for the escort duty. Sure enough, 
on the day appointed, Capt. Elliott's company met at 
Green Pond, and in due time the train rolled up with 
Gen. Hampton and friends on board. After a general 
handshaking, and preparatory to leaving the depot, 
Mr. Pinckney said to Gen. Hampton : "General, I have 
some one out on the platform I want you to see," for 
he had ridden me up there. The General approached, 
followed by the crowd 1 . He walked up, and looking 
me over, said, "Why, this is Prioleau Henderson's old 
grey Arab." He then patted me, and placing his foot 
in the stirrup, mounted and rode me up and 1 dbwn the 
platform, to the delight of all, and amidst the cheers of 
the crowd. Reader, that was the proudest moment of 
my life — to have that grand old hero, Wade Hampton, 

168 



on my back. The ride to Walterboro passed off as if 
it were only a mile, instead of twelve, and I felt like a 
colt on his "first legs." After speaking at Walterboro, 
the General and party came down to Hendersonville 
(my home), to speak. After speaking here at Salem 
Church, the General spent a few days with Mr. Warren 
(a resident of the place), and while doing so, I had the 
honor of having him ride me on a deer hunt. That 
is the last time I ever saw him. 



CHAPTER LXXX. (AND LAST). 

Now I am getting old, and I feel that I have not got 
much longer to stay in this beautiful world. But I 
am ready to go at any time, feeling and knowing that 
I have done my duty in and under all circumstances. 
A short time ago I had a delightful visit from my 
master. He told me he was getting on well and that 
my mistress and all the children sent their best and 
sincerest love for dear old Arab; and that though 
absent, I was not forgotten, either by him or the loving 
wife and children — for he married years ago, and has 
a beautiful, good wife, and I have a kind, loving mis- 
tress. I told him the day he was to leave for Savan- 
nah, that I felt impressed I would never see him again 
in this life ; and that when I died I wished to be buried 
on the hill beyond the old ginhouse. He promised it 
should be done, exactly as I desired. And putting 
both arms around my neck, kissed me good-bye, as in 
days of yore — and it was truly, forever and forever. 

So here, for the last time, with kind wishes. I say 
adieu. 

THE END. 

169 



Arab died when he was twenty-seven years old, and 
was decently buried "on the hill beyond the old gin- 
house/' on the old plantation, where he was foaled and 
raised. Peace to your ashes, noble horse. Your like 
will never be raised in Colleton County again. You 
loved me, and I loved and had implicit faith in you. 
How much so, will never be known by mortal man. 
Believe me, most respectfully, 

Arab's Master. 

Bluff, S. C, May 6th, 1898. 



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